A5: Regional stability in Western Balkans precondition for EU, NATO integration, US pledge support

Budva, Montenegro (30 June 2011) – Regional stability is a precondition for European and Euro-Atlantic integration of the Western Balkans countries, Foreign Ministers of the US–Adriatic Charter (A5) noted in the joint statement following the Initiative partnership commission’s meeting on 29 June in Budva.

Heads of diplomacy of Croatia, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania and Montenegro welcomed on this occasion the results of the NATO Lisbon summit and the Alliance’s open-door policy towards countries striving for membership. They also reiterated their support to the idea of sending a joint team to train Afghan security forces under the ISAF mission.

Montenegrin Foreign Minister Milan Roćen welcomed in particular the first ever participation of the NATO Secretary-General Andres Fogh Rasmussen in an A5 meeting, considering it a great recognition to the A5 Charter, as well as to all Western Balkans countries.

US Ambassador to Montenegro Sue K. Brown stressed the necessity of providing technical and logistic support to the region’s efforts regarding EU and NATO integration, and reiterated the US readiness to provide that support.

The A5 meeting in Budva marked the closure of the Montenegrin six-month presidency of the initiative, which was taken over by Albania.