Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ditmir Bushati attended the US-Adriatic Charter Ministerial or otherwise known as A5, which takes place in Podgorica, Montenegro, the country that holds the presidency for 2018.

At the meeting, the Foreign Ministers of the member states and its observers discussed the current political and security situation in the Western Balkans region and strengthening of regional co-operation between member states and A5 observers in view of the Euro-Atlantic integration of the region.

During the meeting, Minister Bushati, in addition to assessing the contributions of the participating countries in NATO-led operations, particularly in Afghanistan, highlighted the necessity of expanding the Charter with other countries in the region, which will serve its full Euro-Atlantic integration in order to consolidate the peace, stability and prosperity of the region.

Minister Bushati, in the capacity of chairman of the 2019 initiative, noted that: “While this platform has fully served its initial goal to support our efforts towards Euro-Atlantic integration, we believe it is time to re-address the focus of the Initiative. The focus of the Albanian presidency of the US-Adriatic Charter will be to further strengthen co-ordination and mutual support, especially with the United States, in the active and effective fight against terrorism and violent extremism. ”

Minister Bushati focused especially on the necessity to take into account the legitimate request of Kosovo to be included as a member of this Initiative in accordance with Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations.

The Foreign Ministers of Adriatic Charter member countries also approved the Joint Communication, which further advances the ways of enhancing regional co-operation and the importance of expanding the Charter in coping with common security challenges.