Skopje, 16 November 2023 (MIA) – We aren’t just allies, we are also friends who are united in a single vision for a peaceful and stable Europe, that follows and respects the principles of freedom and the rule of law, said the United States Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security, Celeste Wallander, after Thursday’s opening of the 20th Ministerial Meeting of the U.S. – Adriatic Charter (A5) in Skopje.

At a joint press conference with Defense Minister Slavjanka Petrovska, Wallander said the United States remain strongly committed to NATO’s open-door policy, noting that they are proud of the bond they share with the countries of the U.S. – Adriatic Charter.

“At today’s meeting we spoke about the heart of these ideas and ideals, stressing that we are standing together with the citizens of Ukraine, and by doing so we are affirming that this is a fight for the values that we all respect. The comprehensive discussion inspired us in terms of promoting and enhancing our defense cooperation. We are talking about more than just strategy, we are talking about our shared security and the shaping of our shared future,” said Wallander.

Each joint engagement within the A5, according to Wallander, should be a reminder that each step, is a step with which peace isn’t only an aspiration, but also a reality for the entire global community.

“The strength of the A5 is not measured only with the words we say, but also through the actions we take. In preparation for the handover of the presidency [of the A5] to Albania next year, I hope that we will continue in the spirit of friendship and cooperation, which marked our stay here,” said Wallander.

Defense Minister Slavjanka Petrovska assessed that the intensification of regional cooperation will contribute to the strengthening of regional security.

“I am glad that the first point in the joint statement that we just signed refers precisely to our joint commitment to a complete European and Euro-Atlantic integration of the countries of Southeast Europe, but also to our commitment to regional, European peace and security,” said Petrovska.

She said the European and Euro-Atlantic integration of the countries of Southeast Europe will be of immense importance for regional security and stability.

Petrovska added that the success of the A5 initiative is owed precisely to the fact that four of the five A5 members have joined NATO and are actively contributing to the security of the region.

“That’s precisely why we obliged ourselves that the A5 countries will continue to support all regional aspirants until a complete Euro-Atlantic integration, because we all firmly believe that the open-door policy is founded on the fundamental principles of NATO and the A5 initiative,” said Petrovska.

In the context of global security, the Defense Minister said, “the A5 countries unanimously condemn Russia’s aggression on Ukraine which represents a threat to global, European and regional peace and security”.

Petrovska said she expects the commitment to regional peace and enhanced defense cooperation to be reaffirmed at the next ministerial meeting, to be held in Albania in 2024.

In addition to Minister Petrovska and the US Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Celeste Wallander, meeting participants include: Minister of Defense of Albania Niko Peleshi, Minister of Defense of Montenegro Dragan Krapović, Deputy Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina Slaven Galić, and the head of international security and defense cooperation in the Croatian Ministry of Defense Igor Gabrić.

Also attending are representatives from observer countries including Minister of Defense of Kosovo Ejup Maqedonci, State Secretary in the Ministry of Defense of Serbia Nemanja Starović and Deputy Defense Policy Director in the Ministry of Defense of Slovenia Aljoša Selan.

The US–Adriatic Charter is an association formed by Albania, Croatia, North Macedonia and the United States for the purpose of aiding their attempts to join NATO. The Charter was signed on 2 May 2003 in Tirana.

On the sidelines of the 63rd UN General Assembly, held on Sept. 25, 2008 in New York, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina were invited to join to also support their Euro-Atlantic integration processes.

As a result of efforts to develop and achieve NATO standards, Albania and Croatia joined NATO in 2008, Montenegro in 2017 and North Macedonia in 2020.

Photo: Ministry of Defense