Albania, Croatia, Macedonia say NATO membership brings regional permanent peace

TIRANA, March 4 – Albania, Croatia and Macedonia said Tuesday that their proposed NATO membership would strengthen security in South Eastern Europe and bring new value to the northern alliance.
Foreign ministers of the three countries, also supported by their Bulgarian counterpart, distributed an article entitled, “The expansion of NATO – a step towards permanent stability and prosperity of the south-east Europe’, meant to again clarify that their countries were aware that the continuation of vast reforms was critical to their integration efforts.
“A3 countries have always seen membership in NATO not simply as a means to improve their current security, but as a goal commitment to their long-term development, consolidation of the country’s democratic values and the continuous opening of our societies to the region and beyond.”
The three western Balkan countries, which hope to join NATO at the Bucharest summit next month, have signed a U.S.-backed initiative, known as the Adriatic 3 Charter, to plot a common military strategy.
“We are convinced that the expansion of the Alliance with the Adriatic Three will be an added value both to the stability in the region, as well as to the NATO capability in South-Eastern Europe,” said the letter made available to The Associated Press.
NATO chief, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, said Monday that “the performance of any individual aspirant will be judged and at the end of the day the allies will make a political decision.”
“A3 countries have always seen membership to NATO not simply as a means to improve their current security, but as a goal conducive to their long-term development, consolidation of the country’s democratic values and the continuous opening of our societies to the region and beyond,” said the article. They said their NATO accession meant they were ready to take serious responsibilities and contribute to its transformation “for effective confrontation with the new security threats which exceed the national boundaries.”
Croatia is widely expected to receive an invitation to join NATO in Bucharest. NATO officials have said there are more doubts about the Albanian and Macedonian bids.
Albania has been told it should fight hard to meet international standards as it reforms its electoral system and judiciary, while Macedonia should resolve a long-running dispute with neighboring Greece, a NATO member, over its name. The issue is believed controversial enough to stall alliance plans to expand in the Balkans.
Greece has vowed to block Macedonia’s bid to join the alliance unless the name issue is resolved.
The security of South-east Europe will strengthen, the ministers wrote, adding that the new allies would work together with the existing member countries to build a common security zone in the region.
“The countries of the Adriatic Three are in position to prove that they are entering the Alliance with the clear vision for the future of the SEE.”
“The Republic of Albania, the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Croatia will continue to work actively for the preparation for membership during the upcoming days and weeks. After the membership has become a fact, every one of the countries will continue these reforms that require more time with doubled efforts,” the letter said.