WASHINGTON, Nov 15 (Hina) - Croatia, Albania and Macedonia have undertaken to continue implementing reforms and strengthening cooperation to provide security and stability in South-East Europe on their way to NATO, reads a joint
statement issued after the first ministerial meeting of the U.S.-Adriatic Charter Partnership Council in Washington on Friday.
WASHINGTON, Nov 15 (Hina) - Croatia, Albania and Macedonia have
undertaken to continue implementing reforms and strengthening
cooperation to provide security and stability in South-East Europe
on their way to NATO, reads a joint statement issued after the first
ministerial meeting of the U.S.-Adriatic Charter Partnership
Council in Washington on Friday. #L#
Representatives of Croatia, Albania, Macedonia and the United
States met yesterday to discuss the progress the three countries
have made towards NATO by fulfilling their obligations from the
Charter.
According to the joint statement, issued by the State Department,
the three countries have emphasised the importance of continuing to
strengthen democracy and modernise their military forces so they
could meet the challenges of the 21st century.
Croatia, Albania and Macedonia undertake to successfully carry out
their annual national programmes as part of NATO's Membership
Action Plan, in which they have committed themselves to promoting
the rule of law, human rights, and market economy, and to
modernising their armed forces to improve cooperation with NATO,
reads the statement.
Officials of the United States, Albania, Croatia and Macedonia met
in Tirana on May 2 to sign the U.S.-Adriatic Charter on partnership
to encourage the countries' admission to NATO through
cooperation.
The meeting at the State Department, which was hosted by Deputy
Secretary of State Richard Armitage, was attended by Croatian
Deputy Foreign Minister Ivan Simonovic and Albanian and Macedonian
foreign ministers Luan Hajdaraga and Ilinka Mitreva.
According to the statement, since the signing of the charter,
Croatia, Macedonia and Albania have widened and deepened military
cooperation, confirming their commitment to the principle of
regional cooperation, which will help them prepare join NATO.
The three countries have also reaffirmed their commitment to
increasing their contribution to security and stability in the
region, as well as to the fight against terrorism and organised
crime.
Croatia, Albania and Macedonia have also underlined their support
to Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia and Montenegro, as well as their
readiness to cooperate with them in order to help the region
integrate into the Euro-Atlantic community, reads the statement.
(hina) rml