CROATIAN, ALBANIAN, MACEDONIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS ISSUE STATEMENT ABOUT ADRIATIC CHARTER

ZAGREB, May 2 (Hina) - The ambition of Croatia, Albania and Macedonia is to intensify and complete all reforms required for NATO membership so that they can be invited to start membership negotiations as soon as possible and join the alliance in the next enlargement round, reads a joint statement the three countries' foreign ministers issued on Sunday on the occasion of the first anniversary of the signing of the Adriatic Charter.#L# In the statement Croatia's Miomir Zuzul, Albania's Kastriot Islami and Macedonia's Ilinka Mitreva recall that in Tirana a year ago the three countries signed with the United States a charter on partnership and solidarity which joined their efforts to achieve NATO membership. This partnership has already shown that it can strongly contribute to the creation of a united, free, safe and peaceful Europe, reads the statement which Hina received from the Croatian Foreign Ministry. The three ministers point out that much has been achieved since the Adriatic Charter was signed. The Ohrid conference on the implementation of the charter and the Partnership Commission's first meeting in Washington have strongly encouraged the strengthening of individual and cooperative efforts aimed at intensifying all-round internal reforms, thus contributing to the security, stability and well-being of Southeast Europe and the faster integration of its countries into European and Euro-Atlantic structures, reads the statement. Croatia, Albania and Macedonia welcome NATO's recent enlargement by seven new members. The three countries thank the U.S. for its support of their efforts to achieve their common goal - NATO membership - and confirm their determination to continue cooperating in the spirit of the Adriatic Charter so as to achieve that goal. The Partnership Commission monitoring the implementation of the charter will hold its second meeting in Skopje on May 19-20. (Hina) ha