The Adriatic Chapter is a useful mechanism for preparing the countries to join NATO. This was demonstrated by the accession of Albania and Croatia to NATO. It should continue contributing to NATO membership of the other countries that are part of the Charter, which is beneficial for the whole region.

This was stated at Tuesday's press conference following the meeting of the Partnership Commission of US-Adriatic Charter at a foreign ministerial level, chaired by Macedonia.

"Euro-Atlantic integration of all the countries in the region is a necessary precondition for long-term stability in the region and in Europe as well. It should be used in the future to lobby for full-fledged NATO membership of all countries in the region and to prove that we work together to meet our common goal - more stable and prosperous Balkans as part of Europe," Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki said.

The challenges we are facing in the field of our role in maintaining international peace are extremely important, according to Poposki. "It was stressed that with our partners in NATO we have significantly contributed to building peace and stability in Afghanistan. Macedonia after 2014 will continue its efforts to train Afghanistan's security forces."

Croatia's upcoming accession to the EU was welcomed as a significant signal for the region as well as the agreement reached by Kosovo and Serbia as a vital move in keeping peace and security in the region, added Poposki.

Philip Reeker, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia, said his country fully stood behind the goals of the Adriatic Charter, for support of NATO membership of the countries in the region and promotion of regional defence cooperation.

"Security issues are regional by nature and the countries in the region benefit from regional cooperation. The significance of practical cooperation underscores the need of overcoming political issues, like the example of Serbia and Kosovo. The US believes that the countries in this region can either succeed or lag behind together," stated Reeker.

Josko Klisovic, Croatia's Deputy Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, said that the region in the past 10 years since the launch of the initiative had underwent a crucial progress. "Two countries become NATO members and Macedonia is about to join the Alliance. Moreover, the region has been transformed from a consumer to an exporter of security."

"Croatia will resume supporting the region after it joins the EU in two weeks' time and will strengthen its efforts for cooperation with the partners in the region in order to assist them on their Euro-Atlantic road," he pledged.

The meeting was held as part of the Macedonian chairmanship with the US-Adriatic Charter.

The meeting, which marked the 10th anniversary of the Charter signing, focused on ways to enhance cooperation among member-states in light of the next NATO summit, as well as opportunities for joint contribution in the NATO-led Afghanistan mission post-2014.

Besides FMs and senior officials from the Adriatic Charter member-states (Macedonia, Croatia, Albania, Montenegro, and Bosnia&Herzegovina), the meeting also included the US Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Reeker, along with Kosovo and Serbian FMs as observers.