A Defense Ministry delegation, led by Minister Fatmir Besimi, took part Friday at an Adriatic Charter Defense Ministerial, held in Durres, Albania.

In addition to defense ministers from Adriatic Charter countries (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Croatia and Montenegro), the meeting was also attended by Slovenian and Kosovo defense ministers, Admiral James Stavridis, NATO's supreme allied commander, representatives of the NATO Communication and Information Systems Services Agency (NCSA), the US European Command, the RACVIAC Center for Security Cooperation and the Regional Cooperation Council.

The meeting confirmed the continuous strengthening of regional cooperation, while participants also shared views and experiences in connection to meeting requirements for full-fledged NATO membership.

Defense ministers once again welcomed NATO's open door policy. Encouraged by the new strategic concept, which is based on the principle of involvement from the biggest to the smallest ally, they also promoted bolstered relations between NATO and partner-countries.

"Fruitful and intensive regional cooperation between Adriatic Charter countries (A5) is our joint contribution to the vision of whole, free and peaceful Europe. By applying the new NATO 'smart defense' concept, our regional cooperation will be advanced. In my view, it is a win-win approach for more successful modernisation of our armed forces and better joint participation into international operations," Minister Besimi stated at the meeting.

The ministers confirmed their joint declaration for permanent partnership between NATO and Afghanistan, pledging to join forces in the process of establishing peace in Afghanistan, reads the press release.

A5 defense ministers adopted conclusions and pledged to convene at such meetings in the future in a joint statement, in which they upheld their support for Macedonia to join NATO as soon as possible.