JOINT STATEMENT

OF THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTERS OF THE REPUBLIC OF

ALBANIA, THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA AND THE REPUBLIC OF

MACEDONIA ON THE OCCASION OF THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF

THE SIGNING OF THE US-ADRIATIC CHARTER OF PARTNERSHIP

2^nd May 2004

It is our great pleasure to mark today the first anniversary of the signing of the Charter of Partnership among Albania, Croatia, Macedonia and the United States.

A year ago in Tirana, a document of partnership and solidarity was signed, unifying our efforts in achieving a strategic goal of NATO membership.

This Partnership has already proved to be a strong vehicle for contributing to a vision of Europe, whole, free, secure and at peace

Within one year we have accomplished numerous activities.  The Ohrid Conference on the implementation of the Charter and first meeting of the Partnership Commission in Washington D.C., outlined a strong impetus in comprehensive domestic reforms, as well as in contributing further to the security, stability and prosperity of the region of the South-East Europe and to an early integration of its countries in the European and Euro-Atlantic structures.

We applaud the recent enlargement of the Alliance with the seven new members and recognize it as a confirmation that the doors of NATO will remain open until all European democracies, sharing the common values, ideals and interests, become members.

The ambition of our respective countries is to intensify and complete all the necessary reforms, in order to be invited to start Accession Talks at the earliest possible date, and enter into the Alliance in its next enlargement round.

We reiterate our appreciation of the US support for our efforts to achieve the common goal – our NATO membership, and confirm our dedication to continue to work together in the spirit of the Charter until and beyond the achievement of our goal.

Further steps are ahead of us.  We will discuss them during the second meeting of the Partnership Commission to be held in Skopje on 19-20 May 2004.

MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA H.E. KASTRIOT ISLAMI

MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA H.E. MIOMIR ZUUL

MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA H.E. ILINKA MITREVA