During the last years, important geopolitical changes took place in the broader area of Eastern Europe, having as a consequence, among others, the change of policy and strategy in many fields such as social, economical, commercial, scientific e.t.c. It was a contemporary demand to have a meeting of scientists from various countries and especially from countries of the Eastern Europe and the Balkan area, where the various problems concerning the scientific, technological and research fields could be studied and discussed. The goals of this meeting would be: mutual information, broadening of cooperation possibilities through common research programs, as well as possible development of a common policy in certain sections of science and technology of mutual interest. The realization of this meeting, which came true with the initiative, the moral of the NATO Scientific Affairs Division gave the and full economical support pursued results included in the present volume. It was my pleasure to act as the Director of the NATO ARW and I am most grateful to the NATO Scientific Affairs Division for the financial support and especially to its Programme Director, Dr. Alain Jubier, whose contribution to every step of the workshop was essential so that this meeting would be effective.
