(Distinguished Mrs. Kosor, Vice-Prime Minister
of the Government of the Republic of Croatia),
Distinguished colleague Vukelic,
distinguished colleagues ministers,
senior representatives and generals,
Distinguished colleagues and friends,
Ladies and gentlemen
It is a special honour and pleasure for me today to be part of the Informal Meeting of the Ministers of Defence of South-Eastern Europe when in the traditionally beautiful Zagreb we have the opportunity to jointly contribute towards the further strengthening of the dialogue and cooperation in the Region. At the same time I would like express great gratitude to my colleague Branko Vukelic and to his team, for the cordial hospitality and for the outstanding organization of this significant event.
Please allow me on this opportunity to send sincere congratulations to our colleagues and friends from the Republic of Albania and the Republic of Croatia. Their forthcoming becoming a fully-fledged part of the Alliance is our joint success, evidence of our separate national successes and evidence for the success of the Adriatic Initiative as a whole. We are delighted for this success.
Distinguished colleagues,
I would like state with pride that the Republic of Macedonia strongly and adamantly is stepping towards the right track, the only track that leads towards our joint European and Euro-Atlantic future. Despite not receiving the deserved invitation at the Summit in Bucharest, we continue to be a serious, credible factor of regional stability, leader of the defence cooperation and mentorship in the Region, functional multiethnic democracy a model for the Region and beyond, a nation serious contributor towards global security and world peace. Through its achievements, the Republic of Macedonia proves that it is already a worthy partner that deserves its place among the equal.
I am convinced that the strong partnership that we built through our joint efforts in the framework of the Adriatic Group, will additionally support the efforts of the Republic of Macedonia for handling the final obstacle and for the becoming equal part of the Alliance as soon as possible. Today, almost six years since the signing of the Charter, the Adriatic Group proved its srong contribution towards achieving our joint vision for a united, free and peaceful Europe. This was confirmed last December, when in the margins of the Ministerial Conference of the OSCE in Helsinki, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro were officially invited to join the Adriatic Group.
Our joint efforts are an investment in our joint future. Our separate successes will be complete only if we jointly invest in the success of this Region. The Republic of Macedonia is a nation that was one of the first in the Region to go through the integrations through the Partnership for Peace and through the Stabilization and Association Process. We are prepared, through the sharing of our devotion, attained knowledge and experience, to assist the efforts of all nations in the Region for their European and Euro-Atlantic integration.
The expansion of the Adriatic Group represents an excellent opportunity for enhancing the regional cooperation in support of the integrative efforts. In that sense we are prepared to give enhanced contribution towards all regional initiatives and processes and to assist in the building of regional ownership of the regional centres. Through the role of current chair of the SEDM initiative, the Republic of Macedonia will continue to contribute also through the Clearinghouse process for SEE, as well as in the framework of the Regional Arms Control Verification and Implementation Assistance Centre (RACVIAC) in Zagreb and the Peace Operations Centre in Sarajevo. Additionally, in the function of strengthening regional cooperation, we are prepared to make available our national capacities in the role of regional centres. The Training Range Krivolak, the Medical Training Centre, and Media Training Centre are part of the opportunities that the Republic of Macedonia offers to our partners from the Region and beyond.
At the same time I would like to mention the continuous commitment of the Republic of Macedonia for contribution towards global security and world peace. The Republic of Macedonia recently significantly enhanced (25%) its long-term essential contribution towards the ISAF mission in Afghanistan. Our contribution continues towards the military operation of the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina – Althea, towards the mission of the United Nations UNIFIL in Lebanon, as well as our long-term support to KFOR troops in Kosovo.
Distinguished colleagues,
Dear friends,
The Adriatic Group was and today is pylon for the future of this Region. Regional cooperation is our obligation and debt towards regional and towards global security, stability and wellbeing.
The Republic of Macedonia is prepared to strengthen its own contribution towards regional cooperation and towards building security in the Region and beyond. This is proof of our unchanged strategic commitment for becoming part of NATO and the European Union, and for the preparedness to assist the integrative efforts of all nations from the Region. This is our contribution towards the goal that is mutual to us.
Thank you.
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