Bulgaria has the ambitions of advocating the interests of the Balkan countries and European Union region, Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov said.

Purvanov took part in an international conference on Southeastern Europe and EU, taking place in Montenegro's coastal town of Becici, Focus news agency reported.

The construction of a modern transport and communication network and energy infrastructure in the region was needed, Purvanov said.

Montenegro's president Filip Vujanovic, Albanian president Alfred Moisiu, Bosnia and Herzegovina's Nebojsa Radmanovic, Macedonian president Branko Crvenkovski will take part in the forum.

Purvanov told conference participants that despite its new status after the EU accession, Bulgaria would continue defending the interests of the region.

He said that the need for modern infrastructure in the region received no attention during previous forums but it was of key significance for the region.