Meeting of the U.S. – Adriatic Charter member countries (A5)

Meeting of the U.S. – Adriatic Charter A5 member countries was held today in Budva within the Comprehensive Regional Ministerial. The meeting was opened by the Minister of Defence prof Milica Pejanovic Djurisic, PhD.

The Minister Pejanovic - Djurisic said that the U.S. – Adriatic Charter (A-5) represents an important forum where member countries promote their cooperation through different projects and initiatives. She said she expects that discussions during the meeting will add value to the mutual relations and strengthen confidence between the A-5 member countries. The Minister, also, pointed out that the aim of mutual support is improvement of life quality of the citizens of the Western Balkan region. During her speech, the Minister expressed readiness of Montenegro to participate in the initiatives of joining the capacities of the A-5 member countries in the context of NATO “smart defence” and EU “pooling and sharing” concept.  So also pointed out readiness of Montenegro to provide, together with other countries from the region, help for Afghan security forces in maintaining peace and stability in Afghanistan after the final part of the ISAF mission at the end of 2014.         

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Foreign Affairs and European Integration Igor Luksic said that messages Montenegro received on NATO Summit in Wales are encouraging. The Alliance has recognized progress made in reforms, constructive role of Montenegro in the Western Balkans and its contribution to the international security. He also said that Montenegro is determined to fulfil all preconditions to receive invitation to join the Alliance by the end of 2015 and to make full use of this period to show readiness to be a successful, dedicated and credible member of NATO.

Minister of Defence of Republic of Albania in the role of the A5 Chairperson Mimi Kodheli said that in line with the NATO “open door policy” we strongly support membership of the A-5 members into the Alliance. “ We support possible common engagement in NATO led operations, further promotion of our regional training centres, through better coordination, making them more responsive to the national requirements and enhancement of joint capacities in coping with civil emergencies”, sad Minister Kodheli.

Deputy Assistant US Secretary of Defence Evelin Farkas said that the U.S. - Adriatic Charter was primarily formed to actuate countries of South-Eastern Europe to promote peace and stability in the region through integration into Euro-Atlantic community. Also, she said that all the countries have made a significant progress on their way toward EU and NATO.

Deputy Assistant NATO Secretary General for Defence Policy and Planning Jonathan Parish encouraged Montenegro to continue with the reforms and said that it will be invited to join the NATO as soon as it meets the necessary preconditions. “New security challenges the Allies are facing are the same as for many of our partner nations, so we have to develop close cooperation between our allies and partners”, said Parish.

The US Ambassador Sue Key Brown said that A5 member countries can fight the challenges and that they share not only the same boundaries but also the same goals. She also said that A-5 is a perfect example of regional partnership which is complementary to organizations like NATO, EU and UN. 

 The participants of the meeting agreed that it is necessary to make an effort to spend defence budgets efficiently and to carefully define priorities concerning regional projects and regional training centres. They expressed their dedication to reduce unnecessary duplications of expenses, ensure maximum coherence of initiatives in order to provide more efficient regional cooperation. They welcomed the Wales Summit Declaration, which has expressed once again that NATO door will remain open to all European democracies which share the same principles and same values of the Alliance, willing    and able to assume the responsibilities and obligations of membership.  

At the margin of the meeting of the U.S. - Adriatic Charter, the Minister of Defence Milica Pejanovic Djurisic had bilateral meetings with Deputy Assistant US Secretary of Defence Evelin Farkas, Minister of Defence of Republic of Albania Mimi Kodheli, as well as with Minister of Defence of Kosovo Agim Ceku.