Distinguished Chairman of Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Distinguished colleague Cikotic,
Distinguished fellow Ministers and High Representatives of the Adriatic Charter member and observer countries,
Distinguished Officers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Allow me to take this occasion to express my pleasure with today’s Adriatic Charter Defence Ministerial, held in the wonderful city of Sarajevo, and congratulate my colleague Cikotic for the exceptional organization of this very significant event and the warm hospitality of his team which contributed to making us feel excellent during our stay in Bosina and Herzegovina.
The security of our region is inseparable from the security in the world. The security threats and challenges recognize no borders among different countries. Thus, we consider the negotiation between our security systems to which our country is firmly dedicated, necessary not only in terms of exchanging data, know-how and lessons learned, but also in the direct action against these threats. Such global security challenges impose the necessity of a joint cooperation, regardless of the associations our countries belong to. Through our common dedication in tackling these challenges, we are strengthening our common trust and we will easily find solutions to the other outstanding issues in South East Europe. I believe that today’s meeting of the US-Adriatic Charter has contributed to this goal, and I am convinced that this meeting will yield the right results.
Today, in the best possible way, we are demonstrating the strong driving energy of the Adriatic Charter and its role in supporting our efforts in this Region in which we all share the same belief. Less than a month ago, we marked the accession of Serbia and Montenegro to the SEDM process, and I would like to congratulate our fellow ministers Shutanovac and Vuchinich for this. I have to underline our belief that the enlargement of the Adriatic Charter, the enlargement of the SEDM process, as well as the continuation of the positive momentum for the forward movement of the entire Region as a whole – is our only path to a better future.
In the past period, the countries in the Region have been working and aiming towards the Euro-Atlantic integrations with great dedication. The joint success of the Adriatic initiative was also reaffirmed with the full-fledged membership of Albania and Croatia in the Alliance. In addition, last year’s enlargement of the group with two additional countries from the Region, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, underlined the significance and success of the Adriatic Initiative as the key mechanism in strengthening regional stability. Despite not receiving the well deserved invitation at the NATO Summit in Bucharest, the Republic of Macedonia continues to work with great dedication and an even greater enthusiasm in accordance with NATO standards and criteria. Our country will continue to represent a model of functional multiethnic democracy, not only for the Region but even beyond, and this should be rightfully and adequately awarded as soon as possible. The moment of just awarding will be a strong driving force for the other countries in the Region as well.
The constructive contribution to regional cooperation, as well as the participation and contribution to the numerous joint activities, have significantly contributed to strengthening the national capacities. Our country will continue providing specific contributions as part of the SEEBRIG as well as the SEE Clearinghouse where we have declared all our national training capacities in function of developing potential regional centers. In that respect, I would like to underline the demonstrated dedication of the Republic of Macedonia to offer the Military Training Area Krivolak, the Pre-Deployment Medical Center, as well as the Communications Center. With its individual contribution in the PCOTS in Sarajevo, as well as the appointment of a Director in RACVIAC we continue to reaffirm our commitment and national dedication to the regional ownership centers.
The progress of the countries in the Region towards their European integrations is obvious. One of the major benefits for the countries is the region is the forthcoming visa liberalization for Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, as a recognition of their individual achievements and the completed reform process with respect to meeting the EU standards. It will additionally strenghten the positions of the countries from the Western Balkans, through free movement of people with the purpose of accelerated achievement of the strategic goal – EU membership of the countries in the Region. As an EU candidate country, the Republic of Macedonia is even more actively preparing to participate in the development of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) and continues its own contribution to the EU-led ALTHEA mission, together with its active contribution to the EU Catalogue of BGs and capacities.
In that respect, I would like to underline that our country has a broad social and political consensus in support of our strategic determination for an active participation in building the security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic region. Hence, we will continue participating in NATO, EU and UN led operations. Furthermore, we will seriously reinforce our contribution to Afghanistan with 2 platoons, as a result of the excellent cooperation with the National Guard from our partner state Vermont. Our soldiers are already going through their joint training and are preparing for deployment in the beginning of next year, thus raising our contribution to 4% of the overall Armed Forces deployed abroad.
Dear Colleagues,
Regardless of how much I tried to divide my intervention in accordance with the provided agenda I failed because I believe that regional cooperation and Euro-Atlantic integration are inseparable. This is the reason I would like to greet our US colleagues and friends who had the vision that regional cooperation precisely is the key to the entire Euro-Atlantic and European integration of the Region as a whole.
By successfully overcoming the numerous challenges we have been facing in the past period, our Region demonstrated its capacity to raise itself to the level of standards expected from future NATO and EU members and serve as a model of democratic transformation. In that respect, I am convinced that in the near future, the Republic of Macedonia and the other countries in the Region will become members of the Euro-Atlantic family, a place we have earned, and a place we deserve.
Thank you.
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