02 May 2003
U.S. Joins Albania, Croatia, Macedonia in Adriatic Charter
(Powell signed with foreign ministers May 2 in Tirana) (420)
Following is a State Department press release on the Adriatic Charter
signed by the United States, Albania, Croatia and Macedonia May 2,
2003, in Tirana:
(begin fact sheet)
U.S. Department of State
Office of the Spokesman
May 2, 2003
FACT SHEET
ADRIATIC CHARTER
The Adriatic Charter, an initiative in the spirit of the 1998
U.S.-Baltic Charter, was proposed jointly by the Presidents of
Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia to President Bush at the NATO Prague
Summit in November 2002. President Bush welcomed the Adriatic
initiative as a strong contribution toward his vision of a Europe
whole, free, and at peace. Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia jointly
drafted the Charter. Secretary of State Colin Powell will sign the
Charter together with his colleagues, Foreign Ministers Meta, Mitreva,
and Picula, in Tirana, Albania, May 2, 2003.
The Charter:
- Builds on the achievements of the NATO Prague Summit by reinforcing
continued U.S. support for the Alliance's "Open Door," underscoring
the goal of Albania's, Croatia's, and Macedonia's eventual full
integration into NATO and other Euro-Atlantic institutions.
- Underlines Albania's, Croatia's, and Macedonia's dedication to
strengthening their individual and cooperative efforts to intensify
and hasten domestic reforms which enhance the security, prosperity and
stability of the region.
- Notes the tremendous accomplishments already achieved by Albania,
Croatia, and Macedonia on the path of Euro-Atlantic integration,
outlines areas of continuing focus, and reiterates the intention of
the United States to continue assisting the countries in implementing
necessary reforms. Notes also that each aspirant country will be
judged individually on its progress toward meeting standards for
membership in Euro-Atlantic bodies.
- Reaffirms the parties' shared political commitment to strengthen
democratic institutions, civil society, rule of law, market economies,
and NATO-compatible militaries; to fight corruption and crime; and to
protect human rights and civil liberties for all individuals in
Albania, Croatia, Macedonia and the other countries of southeast
Europe.
- Emphasizes close bilateral, regional and multilateral political,
defense, and economic cooperation between the partners, and with their
neighbors, as benefiting all the countries of southeast Europe by
enhancing stability and accelerating the region's integration into
European and transatlantic institutions.
- Foresees the establishment of Partnership Commission, at an
appropriately high level of representation, that would meet twice a
year or more often as necessary to review progress achieved toward
meeting the objectives of the Charter. (The first meeting of the
Partnership Commission has not been scheduled.)
(end fact sheet)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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