BUCKOVSKI-JACKSON MEETING.
MIA
Reforms of the Macedonian defense, cooperation in the area of defense among countries of the Adriatic group, Macedonia, Albania and Croatia, as well as strengthening of Macedonia's partnership with the US, were main issues on Thursday's meeting of Macedonian Defense Minister Vlado Buckovski and Director of the Project on Transitional Democracies Bruce Jackson.
A stress was put on the forthcoming Ohrid Conference on Implementation of the Adriatic Charter.
Jackson assessed that Macedonia accomplished good results in the sphere of defense, progress in the reforms of its armed forces and stabilization of security.
Talking about the Adriatic Charter, he welcomed the joint statement of Macedonian, Albanian and Croatian Ministries in Tirana.
"This statement is not only a statement of solidarity, but commitment to unconditional cooperation," Buckovski said.
Buckovski informed that the lobbing process for NATO membership would be enlarged by cooperation through formula "three plus three", in which the Defense Ministries of Macedonia, Albania, Croatia, Greece, Italy and Turkey would participate.
"Macedonia's bilateral cooperation with all its neighbors is significantly strengthened, especially the regional security and defense cooperation with Albania and Croatia in the scope of the Adriatic group, but also with UNMIK and KFOR," Macedonian Defense Minister said.
"By signing the US-Adriatic Charter, Macedonia has expressed its political determination of strong regional cooperation, which is one of the main requirements for integration with NATO. On this road, the US is Macedonia's promoter and lobbyist as the country's strategic partner," Buckovski said.
Jackson expressed the US strong support of Macedonia's efforts to NATO membership.
After the meeting, Jackson said Macedonia accomplished good results in the sphere of defence and stabilisation of security. He expected those issues to be discussed at the Conference on Implementation of the Adriatic Charter, which is to take place on September 26-28 in Ohrid.
"This is important agreement. America and other countries intend to help Macedonia to succeed in its aspirations for joining the Europe," Jackson stressed reminding that the Adriatic Charter was signed by Macedonia, Albania and Croatia on May 2, 2003 in Tirana. He said that Baltic Countries had done the same in 1998, which contributed for their success at the Prague and Copenhagen NATO Summits.
"There is a misunderstanding in regard to the regional security model. Every country in Europe follows the Euro-Atlantic security model," Jackson said, answering to the question whether the Balkan security system will pull back the countries from the Adriatic Group on their path to NATO.
He said that the urges of the Defence Ministers of Adriatic Group "are to produce the security systems and not to be their consumers. The mechanisms are underway and the foundations are built."
Jackson pointed out that according to the recent analysis the NATO Summit on May 2004 in Istanbul would be a decisive point for Macedonia and other countries from the Adriatic Charter to be invited to NATO membership.
"Macedonia, Albania and Croatia and Serbia and Bosnia are prepared for this key Summit," Jackson said.
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IMPLEMENTING THE ADRIATIC CHARTER CONFERENCE.
MIA
A two-day Ohrid Conference on Implementing the Adriatic Charter has began with the panel discussion on "The Challenges that Adriatic Group Face With," led by the host, the Macedonian Foreign Minister Ilinka Mitreva.
The signing of the US-Adriatic Charter four months ago in Tirana, Albania, was the factor of new partnership in Europe, building of model of regional co-operation and speeded up processes for integration of the three countries in Europe, Macedonian Foreign Minister Ilinka Mitreva said.
The accomplishment of the strategic goal means solid foundation for peace and prosperity in the European region, Mitreva said, adding "we are fully aware of the importance of this moment in the European history and we are also prepared to take our responsibility contributing to security as safer partners, NATO - allies and finally as EU members."
She pointed out the US support as the partner to the Adriatic Charter, the support of the 19 NATO member-states at the recently held Prague Summit and support of the leaders of Visegrad Group and Vilnius Group.
"The implementing the Adriatic Charter demands combination of interior reforms and regional and multilateral co-operation. Everything we do in order to fulfil our joint aspirations to join the European institutions will be the partnership of individual accomplishments and collective political action," Mitreva said. She said that the countries from the region should put up the challenge by themselves in finding the ways to speed up the reforms in the society and to develop more perfect mechanisms for regional co-operation.
Foreign Minister welcomed the guests from other countries of the region emphasising that the membership in the Adriatic Charter is always open.
Mitreva at the panel discussion said that countries aspirants on their path to NATO and EU should focus on issues on what can be done for sooner implementation of the interior reforms, and especially on threats which represent a real danger for European democracies in development of the region, like the crime, corruption, illegal traffic in weapons, drugs and people.
Bruce Jackson, Director of the Project on Transitional Democracies, said that the Adriatic Charter is a framework for democratic processes in the region and if accomplished, will lead these countries to NATO.
Jackson said that the ministers who participate at Ohrid Conference expressed preparedness to cooperate with Serbia and Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina and on afternoon session it is possible to build a position on enlargement of the Adriatic Group from three to five countries.
No talks on Kosovo have been led at the first panel discussion.
Answering the question whether Kosovo should be included in the Adriatic Group and Euro-Atlantic integration processes, Bruce Jackson stressed "the best help for this region would be if all are included in the integration processes."
"There is much promise of the fact that Defence Ministers in this region discuss and work together. This does not mean that they must agree on everything immediately. It needs time for this," Carl Bildt, the former Swedish PM, said after the first panel discussion.
He said that we are on a good path than before but much had to be done. "Many mistakes had been done on the Balkans in the past 10 years and they should be disclosed," Bildt said, expressing his concern over the economic and social situation in the region.
He considers that there are no real threats for the Balkans, and the world faces with the threats of the organised crime and the terror. Bildt assessed that if Serbia and Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina are to be included in the Adriatic Charter it will mean an important step, warning that the international community can not only help the Balkans but the countries from the region must help themselves by continuation of the democratic processes.
"The international community is here to help and not to decide," Carl Bildt said.
At the opening of the Adriatic Charter Conference in Ohrid on, U.S. Ambassador Lawrence Butler delivered a message from Secretary of State Colin Powell to the Conference participants.
He congratulated on the commitments of the countries to enhance co-operation among the nations of southeast Europe and to advance each of Macedonia, Croatia and Albania partnership with NATO. He said he was proud that was able to join the countries in Tirana in May for the signing of the Adriatic Charter.
"You and your neighbours are on a clear path towards Euro-Atlantic Integration, and the United States supports that process for each nation in the region. However, each of you must do the difficult work of reform," reads the message.
"Your work together in the region to expand co-operation between your states and at home to further the development of democracy and market economies demonstrates your commitment to achieve together a new level of peace and prosperity for all your peoples. On behalf of the United States, I wish you continued success in this joint endeavour," reads the message from US Secretary of State Colin Powell.
A working experts group is to be formed to prepare and elaborate the strategy, programme and future projects by the countries-signatories of the Adriatic Charter.
Several informal bilateral meetings between the participants will be held in the margins of the conference.
The Adriatic Charter signing ceremony was held on May 2, 2003 in Tirana by the Foreign Ministers of Macedonia, Albania and Croatia Ilinka Mitreva, Ilir Meta and Tonino Picula, and the US Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Numerous meetings at different levels were realised within the frameworks of the political, defensive and parliamentary dimension as well as protection of the exchanged information in the Adriatic Charter.
Ninety journalists from Macedonia and abroad follow the Ohrid Conference.
