Members of the U.S.-Adriatic Charter for Partnership on Building Counter- Proliferation Capacities

Washington, D.C., March 4, 2005 – Representatives from the member states of the U.S.-Adriatic Charter for Partnership -  Albania, Croatia and Macedonia - met at the Croatian Embassy in Washington to discuss, as part of the A-3 process, strengthening their cooperation in counter-proliferation and counter-terrorism activities, primarily within the framework of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) launched by U.S. President George W. Bush in May 2003. A brief by representatives of the U.S. Defense Department on PSI activities was presented, followed by a discussion on ways each A-3 member could contribute to the functioning and strengthening of the PSI in the region.

Croatian Ambassador Neven Jurica stated that it is important that the U.S.-Adriatic Charter members attach the counter-proliferation and counter-terrorism dimension to their activities, as this is becoming increasingly important to the partnership activities of NATO and its member states.

Ambassador Jurica mentioned that Croatia has already gone a long way in adapting its internal regulations and legislation to meet the needs of the PSI on the national level, including by establishing a National Commission on the PSI. Ambassador Jurica also informed partners of Croatia’s decision to take up the Chairmanship of the South East Europe Defense Ministerial (SEEDM) Working Group on Defense and Military Support to Counter-proliferation, Border Security and Counter-Terrorism.