Joint Statement of the Adriatic Charter Group

Following is the text of a joint statement issued on the occasion of the first meeting of the Partnership Commission, held under the auspices of the Charter of Partnership among Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia, and held in Washington, D.C., on November 14, 2003.

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Representatives of Albania, Croatia and Macedonia, along with the United States, met today in Washington to reaffirm their common vision of a secure, whole and free Europe, and to review the progress made towards achieving that goal.

On May 2, 2003, in Tirana, the United States, Albania, Croatia and Macedonia joined in a Charter of Partnership, which affirmed the shared goal of the Partner nations to advance Albania’s, Croatia’s and Macedonia’s integration into NATO, via mutual cooperation in the spirit of the Vilnius group. Today’s meeting was a continuation of the dialogue that has been occurring through regular bilateral and trilateral meetings in the region.

Albania, Croatia and Macedonia express gratitude to the U.S. for its firm support of their efforts to implement the Charter, and for its continued commitment to freedom, stability and democracy in Southeast Europe. Albania, Croatia and Macedonia emphasized the importance of further work to strengthen their democracies and modernize their military capabilities in order to be able to face the security challenges of the 21st century.

In this regard, Albania, Croatia and Macedonia are committed to the successful fulfillment of their Annual National Programs as part of NATO’s Membership Action Plan. Through that Plan, Albania, Croatia and Macedonia commit themselves to promoting the rule of law, human rights, a free market economy, and modernizing their military capabilities for greater interoperability with NATO.

Since signing the Charter, Albania, Croatia and Macedonia have expanded and deepened their military cooperation, thus confirming in practice their commitment to the principle of regional cooperation, which will facilitate their preparations for NATO membership.

The Partners discussed in detail Albanian, Croatian and Macedonian plans for continuing economic, political, military, and democratic reforms to take place prior to 2004's NATO Summit in Istanbul. Albania, Croatia and Macedonia also reaffirmed their commitment to further increase their contributions to security and stability in the region and beyond.

As part of this commitment towards regional security and stability and their combined struggles against terrorism, Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia will continue to undertake resolute steps to fight organized crime, including money laundering and trafficking in persons, which are intertwined with international terrorism.

Finally, Albania, Croatia and Macedonia underscored their support for their neighbors Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia and Montenegro, as well as their willingness to work with them to facilitate the region’s progress toward integration into the Euro-Atlantic community, in order to realize the common goal of "a Europe whole, free and at peace.”

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