Ministerial meeting of the US – the Adriatic Charter

Besides the delegations of members of the Charter (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Macedonia and United States), the meeting was also participated by observers and NATO delegations, the Allied Command for Operations, RACVIAC, RCC, Slovenia and Kosovo.
Welcoming speeches were held by the President of the Republic of Albania Bamir Topi and the Commander of Allied Command Operations Admiral James Stavridis.

Topics of the ministerial meeting included discussion on the issue of new approaches and opportunities for regional cooperation in the frame of the U.S. – Adriatic Charter and the experiences and opportunities of joint cooperation in peacekeeping missions and operations. At the centre of discussion were the new challenges and approaches to regional cooperation and development of defence capabilities in conditions of reduced defence budgets through the concept of Smart Defence.

With regard to cooperation in the framework of peacekeeping missions and operations, special emphasis was placed on lessons learned and prospects for further contributions of members of the Charter to international peace and stability through joint participation in the ISAF operation in Afghanistan. In this context, contributions of the member states of the Charter to the Military Police School of the Afghan National Army, which is led by the Republic of Croatia, was particularly emphasized. In his speech, State Secretary Pjer Simunovic thanked for contribution of the current members of the Charter to the operation in Afghanistan, particularly to the School of Military Police and the proposed continuation of cooperation through the formation of joint mentoring teams.

Meeting participants also agreed on the importance of continuing cooperation between the US – Adriatic Charter members as an appropriate mechanism for promoting regional dialogue and military cooperation and the strengthening of national capabilities to achieve the common regional goal – integration in the Euro-Atlantic structures.

On the sidelines of the meeting delegation leaders signed the Joint Statement and the Accession Letter by which Bosnia and Herzegovina joined the current Agreement on joint contribution of Croatia, Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro to the Military Police School in Kabul.