The meeting of the Partnership Commission of the US-Adriatic Charter (A5) was held in Tirana today, with member and observer countries being in attendance.

This meeting was chaired by Acting Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Gent Cakaj in his capacity as Chair of the Adriatic Charter during this year.

In his speech, Acting Minister Cakaj underlined the need to further strengthen regional cooperation in coping with the current challenges to regional security, and noted Albania’s contribution to confronting them.

Likewise, the Acting Minister laid emphasis on the need to have other countries from the region, including Kosovo, join the Charter, arguing that the latter’s enlargement will be conducive to the further strengthening of regional cooperation instrumental in facing the challenges, and the region’s being fully integrated into the Euro-Atlantic structures. According to the Acting Minister, the US -Adriatic Charter has had an important role to play for the purpose of our countries’ Euro-Atlantic integration, with the region ensuring security.

After highly commending Albania’s focus over its Chairmanship of the US-Adriatic Charter during the current year, the participating countries, on the other hand, supported the need to intensify regional cooperation so as to cope with the current challenges and threats to the regional security, and not limited to that only, in a most effective manner.

A platform to showcase the Albanian Chairmanship’s accomplishments, being in compliance with its focus under this initiative, the meeting centred on the regional cooperation among the member and observer countries of A-5, so as to cope with the security challenges facing all the countries, and principally, violent extremism and terrorism.

Likewise, in the course of the meeting, attention was given to the efforts for the region’s Euro-Atlantic integration, and to the need for the US-Adriatic Charter enlargement by having Kosovo join it.

This meeting saw the end of Albania’s term as chair of the US-Adriatic Charter, which is officially assumed by Bosnia-Herzegovina.

JOINT COMMUNIQUÉ
US-Adriatic Charter Partnership Commission Meeting Albania’s Chairmanship-in-Office 2019
13 December 2019, Tirana

1. We, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia, the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, and the Representative of the United States of America, have convened in Tirana on the 13th of December 2019 under the Albanian Chairmanship-in-Office of the US – Adriatic Charter Partnership Commission.

2. We express our heartfelt condolences to Albania for the victims caused by the 26 November devastating earthquake and we convey our full solidarity to Albanian people on these difficult moments. Charter members and observer countries have contributed in earnest in providing the emergency help and in addressing the consequences of such a severe natural disaster. This is a sign of solidarity and of our common commitments to develop and build joint capabilities in responding to such natural disasters.

3. Further strengthening democratic values and fundamental freedoms, respect for human rights and consolidating rule of law is vital for further progress in the European and Euro-Atlantic integration processes that is important for overall stability and prosperity of the region.

4. The U.S.-Adriatic Charter (A5), since its signature in 2003 in Tirana, has played an important role in helping members and observers progress towards Euro-Atlantic integration and increased regional security. We are thankful to the United States for its continued support and constructive role in the region, as demonstrated by its strong commitment to this Charter.

5. We support the European perspective for the whole region which is crucial for the stability and prosperity of the region. Therefore, we regret that consensus was not reached to open negotiation with Albania and North Macedonia. In addition, we stress the importance for a greater integration for Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the EU liberalization of visas for Kosovo as soon as possible.

6. We look forward to welcoming North Macedonia as the 30th NATO Ally, which will significantly contribute to regional security and stability. We encourage the swift completion of the process of ratification of the Accession Protocol by all NATO Allies.

7. We welcome the November 19th decision by the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina to submit a Reform Program to NATO. We also welcome the appointment of the new Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina by the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as his confirmation by the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina on December 4th 2019. A5 NATO member states are committed to providing political support and practical assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the spirit of the A5 Charter.

8. NATO’s 20 – year presence in Kosovo, continues to serve stability in the region. We applaud the democratically held October elections in Kosovo, which were assessed as fair and transparent, despite concerns in some areas about intimidation and lack of political pluralism. The results were accepted by all parties, preparing the peaceful transition of governance.

9. We also support Serbia’s active partnership with NATO on issues of common interest, with an important focus on support for democratic, institutional and defense reforms.

10. We emphasize the need for Prishtina and Belgrade to resume negotiations for a comprehensive normalization agreement as soon as possible. Normalization is essential for both sides to move forward on their respective paths toward the EU and intrinsic to stability in the entire region.

11. We reaffirm our strong commitment to international peace and security and commit to strengthen further our national and joint contributions within the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. Joint contributions to Alliance-led engagements by A5 members are a measurable contribution to Coalition efforts. Based on our successful joint experience in the Resolute Support Mission, we endorse in principal the Albanian Ministry of Defense proposal for a joint contribution to the NATO mission in Iraq in 2020.

12. We reaffirm our commitment to the Open Door policy of our Charter for the countries from South East Europe. In this context, we warmly welcome the participation of our observers: Kosovo, Slovenia, and Serbia. Their contributions provide a true regional dimension to this forum. Three members of the A5 and one observer are already NATO members, and one is in the process of becoming the 30th member. This is testimony that the A5 is delivering and successfully fulfilling the mission for which it was created 16 years ago. We strongly support the enlargement of the Charter in order to carry on our mission and allow others in the region to fully benefit from this initiative. To this end, resolution of the pending issue of Kosovo’s request for membership to the A5 is long overdue and should be resolved in the next 12 months.

13. We align ourselves with the conclusions of the U.S.-Adriatic Charter Defense Ministerial Meeting that took place on 10-11th December 2019 in Tirana, Albania, and the renewed commitment to regional and Trans-Atlantic security.

14. We extend our gratitude to Albania for its active and successful Chairmanship of the Charter during 2019. We appreciate in particular its focus on strengthening our efforts to counter terrorism and violent extremism actively and effectively.

15. We express our best wishes for a successful Chairmanship-in-Office by Bosnia and Herzegovina during 2020.