ZAGREB, May 2 (Hina) - The foreign ministers of the United States, Croatia, Albania and Macedonia - Colin Powell, Tonino Picula, Ilir Meta and Ilinka Mitreva - signed in Tirana on Friday a US-Adriatic charter which formalises the
United States' support for the three countries' bids to join NATO.
ZAGREB, May 2 (Hina) - The foreign ministers of the United States,
Croatia, Albania and Macedonia - Colin Powell, Tonino Picula, Ilir
Meta and Ilinka Mitreva - signed in Tirana on Friday a US-Adriatic
charter which formalises the United States' support for the three
countries' bids to join NATO. #L#
Among other things, the document stresses the principle under which
progress towards NATO should be assessed individually, in line with
each candidate-country's achievements.
Albania, Croatia and Macedonia reaffirm their goal to become full
members of European and trans-Atlantic institutions, including the
European Union and NATO, reads the document in which it is also
noted that the USA welcomes and supports such aspirations.
The USA confirms its consistent stand that those democracies should
be given the opportunity to become full members as soon as they are
able to assume membership responsibility and ready to defend the
democratic values protected by the Alliance, the document further
states.
According to the document, the partnership will include the areas
of politics, economy, security, culture and the environment. To
advance those ties, the sides will form a partnership commission
with chairmanship at an appropriately high level.
The commission will meet twice a year or as frequently as required
to assess the results of bilateral consultations on democratic
reforms, human rights, economic reform, crime and corruption,
regional security and all other areas, as well as to discuss
progress achieved in the accomplishment of the objectives defined
by the charter, the document says.
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