The ministers adopted a joint statement at the end of the third meeting of the US-Adriatic Charter, confirming readiness to further strengthen cooperation in view of the realisation of the common goal -- the full integration of Croatia, Albania and Macedonia into NATO.
"NATO representatives, including the secretary-general himself, have reaffirmed their support to the countries of the Charter on their road to the North Atlantic Alliance," Croatian Defence Minister Berislav Roncevic told the press.
As part of the three countries' efforts to join Euro-Atlantic institutions, notably NATO, Roncevic said that a joint medical team would be sent to the ISAF mission, in accordance with conclusions the signatories to the charter reached at their previous meeting three months ago.
Roncevic said the medical team might be sent to Afghanistan in August. He added there had been no discussion about the training of Iraqi soldiers.
He said the signatories were agreed that further mutual cooperation was an important instrument for the advancement of regional security and cooperation. They supported Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia and Montenegro in their efforts to join NATO's Partnership for Peace programme, announced further support for NATO's presence in the region, and reaffirmed their will to broaden cooperation in the global war on terror.
Roncevic also highlighted the part of the statement saying that in line with conclusions NATO reached at its Istanbul summit, NATO foreign ministers will individually evaluate the progress Croatia, Albania and Macedonia make on their road to NATO.
Apart from Roncevic, the statement was signed by his counterparts Pandeli Majko of Albania, Jovan Manasijevski of Macedonia, and US representative Alan van Egmond.
The US-Adriatic Charter is an agreed partnership between Croatia, Albania and Macedonia in the accelerated implementation of reforms and adoption of standards required for European and transatlantic integration.
The Zagreb meeting was attended by 14 delegations, including from NATO, Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Slovenia, Turkey, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Serbia and Montenegro.
The next meeting is due to take place in Tirana.