This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Community, Programme PHARE Joint Small Projects Fund for Cross Border Cooperation Bulgaria – Greece BG 2002/000-624-05 and the Republic of Bulgaria. The content of this document is the sole responsibility of the beneficiary the Municipality of Kresna and its partners and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the official position of the European Union. “A MOSAIC OF NATURE FROM PIRIN AND THE AEGEAN ”

 

Memorandum
Of the participants in the Bulgarian – Greek forum for partnership of people with disabilities    

We the people with disabilities from the Municipality of Kresna, Republic of Bulgaria and the Municipality of Menemeni, Republic of Greece, participants in the Bulgarian – Greek forum “Togetherness”, implemented in the City of Thessaloniki on April 16 th 2005,
•  Lead by the understanding that the security and the progress of the Balkan region are based on intercultural partnership and dialog between the Balkan nations;
•  Taking into account that the twinning of the towns is a practical dimension of the whole idea for a Europe without borders and a Europe of the citizens;
•  Convinced in the necessity , international agreement treaties and collaboration to obtain a practical expression in specific partnership relations among groups of people and ethnic groups of the Balkan countries ;
•  Lead by the principles of the European convention for human rights protection and the general liberties and the European frame convention for cross border collaboration between the territorial communities or authorities of the European council.
•  Encouraged by the European Union support and the positive results by the collaboration hitherto between the two municipalities which started in 1992 with a collaboration for joint participation in European Union programmes and developed into permanent bilateral collaboration in a set of fields being of a mutual interest. and, in conformity with the following contracts on a national level:
•  Contract for friendship , good neighbourship , collaboration and security between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Greece , effective from 21 May 1992 .
•  Contract between the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Government of the Republic of Greece for stimulation and mutual protection of the investments, effective from 29 April 1995 .
•  Contract between the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Government of the Republic of Greece for collaboration in the field of tourism, effective from 02 January 2001 .
•  Joint programme document for cross border collaboration between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Greece , approved by the European Commission in December 2001.
•  Protocol of Intent for collaboration between from the Municipality of Kresna , Republic of Bulgaria and the Municipality of Menemeni , Republic of Greece in the City of Thessaloniki , Republic of Greece from 05 August 2004 and on this basis , we discussed the place and the role of the people with disabilities in the processes of a Balkan and European integration and to we have reached an agreement to:
•  Popularize the idea and the vision for partnership of the people with disabilities on the Balkans , lobby for this on different levels of state government of the Balkan countries ;
•  Establish today 16 th April 2005 in the City of Thessaloniki , Republic of Greece , Club for Partnership of people with disabilities from the Municipality of Kresna , Republic of Bulgaria and the Municipality of Menemeni , Republic of Greece, as an open liberal organization for lon-term collaboration and mutual aid;
•  Develop and implement joint initiatives and projects aiming at social integration of the people with disabilities in the societies from both sides of the border;
•  Popularize our joint initiatives to the other Balkan countries and twinned Balkan cities;
•  Build an interbalkan network for communication and partnership of people with disabilities which will support the establishment of ethnic , religious and cultural understanding and tolerance;
•  Build a network of partnership with state , NGOs and private institutions which will support and help the implementation of our joint initiatives and activities ;
•  Inform ourselves for the good experience and practices of other European countries and acquire it successfully in our own activity;
•  Present and encourage the idea , vision and the results by the current forum on the joint web page of the Municipality of Kresna and the Municipality of Menemeni ;
•  Create a database of the participants in the forum;
•  Formulate a permanent contact group on the forum where the participating countries are presented by : the Municipality of Kresna , Republic of Bulgaria - Georgi Shterev , Vasil Kalugerov and … , the Municipality of Menemeni , the City of Thessaloniki , Republic of Greece ;
•  Provide the decisions taken on this forum to the following national institutions : Republic of Bulgaria – Regional administrations of Blagoevgrad , Smolyan , Haskovo and Kurdjali , the Association of the South - West municipalities and NGOs , oriented to the human rights and liberties, Republic of Greece - ………………
We believe that our initiatives and activities are a useful step in achieving the successful regional and European integration.
Composed in the City of Thessaloniki , Republic of Greece on 16 th April, in four original copies - two in Engish and one in Bulgarian and Greek languages.

This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Community