Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Ljupco Dimovski opened Wednesday the 2012 Agricultural Policy Forum, which brings together representatives of agricultural ministries from 12 member states of the Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group (SWG) in SEE and officials from EU institutions and from Austria, Germany, Hungary and Slovenia having the status of observers.

Addressing the event, Minister Dimovski said that for over a decade, the Agricultural Policy Forum had been a leader in the development of political dialogues of SEE countries and a driving force of innovation and positive changes in agriculture and rural development.

"At a regional level, the Agricultural Policy Forum is one of the biggest gatherings for all those creating the policy on how to discuss major topics in agriculture and rural development," he stated.

Dimovski noted that the Forum offered a chance for all participants to share their own experiences and an opportunity for enhancing future cooperation.

"Our countries are ready to share the national experience with colleagues from other countries. At the same time, hopefully we will gather a useful international experience through discussions and cooperation," the Minister said.

The 2012 Agricultural Policy Forum focuses on the implementation of the EU's future agricultural policy and the policy of rural development and its impact over SEE countries. The event also covers agriculture and rural development taking into account environmental protection, challenges with respect to climate changes and territorial and regional cooperation.

The Republic of Macedonia holds the chairmanship with the  Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group (SWG) in SEE. "It is an additional confirmation of Macedonia's positive policies implemented in the field of agriculture," Dimovski stressed.

The Ohrid event will end with the adoption of a closing document, the so called 'Ohrid Agenda 2012', which will be submitted to relevant European institutions.