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A5 ministerial meeting pledges commitment to NATO open-door policy

Published on: Nov 14, 2018 8:59 PM Author: PR Service
PR Service PR Service

Budva, Montenegro (14 November 2018) -- Meeting of the US – Adriatic Charter (A5() defence ministers took place earlier today in Budva within this year's Montenegro's presidency of the A5 Initiative. The meeting was opened by Prime Minister of Montenegro Duško Marković, Minister of Defence Predrag Bošković and US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence Laura Cooper.
   
Prime Minister Marković pointed out that successful 15-year duration of the US-Adriatic Charter speaks volume about the quality of the defence cooperation between the Western Balkan countries. He underscored the unequivocal contribution of the A5 Initiative to achieving the strategic goal of Montenegro to become the 29th member of the North Atlantic Treaty, recalling that this is the third Montenegrin presidency of the Charter, but the first one as a full-fledged NATO member. He said that the US-Adriatic Charter's primary objective is to provide support to aspirant countries in the process of joining the Alliance, adding that Montenegro will continue to advocate for the rapid and efficient fulfillment of the goals, i.e., strengthening the comprehensive bilateral cooperation in Southeast Europe.

PR Service PR Service

Minister Bošković emphasised that the US-Adriatic Charter represents an important forum for promoting Euro-Atlantic aspirations of the countries of Southeast Europe, as well as a powerful instrument for strengthening regional cooperation in the field of defence. He said that during the Montenegrin presidency, the Charter confirmed the commitment of its member countries to good neighbourly cooperation and joint tackling contemporary security challenges, in order to preserve regional stability.

"Promoting NATO Open-Door policy for all aspirant countries is Montenegro's goal and we will remain fully committed to it after Albania takes over the presidency of the US-Adriatic Charter," Minister Bošković said, adding that successful integration processes in the Western Balkans guarantees peace and security throughout Europe.

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence Laura Cooper stressed the importance of the role of the US-Adriatic Charter in strengthening mutual understanding and trust in the countries of the region. She said that security challenges that do not know the borders create a need for defining common resources and projects, which will also contribute to the further development of national defence capacities, and that the United States will continue to support the efforts of the countries of the region in that regard.

PR Service PR Service

The participants of the meeting reaffirmed their determination to continue contributing to regional security and stability, through strengthening good neighbourly relations, improving political dialogue and developing military cooperation, in order to ensure lasting peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
     
The meeting was attended by defence ministers of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo and Macedonia,Olte Dzacka, Rustem Berisha, Marina Pendeš, Damir Krstičević Radmila Sekerinska and Rustem Berisha, as well as State Secretary in the Ministry of Defence of Slovenia Milos Bizjak, and State Secretary in the Ministry of Defence of Serbia Aleksandar Živković.

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