I would like to greet you on behalf of Montenegro. I would like to thank our host Croatia and Minister Jandroković for the excellent organization of the meeting. This is the first time Croatia chaired the Adriatic Charter as a member state of NATO. Albania also has this status. Isn't this the best recognition of our regional initiative whose members are making such tangible progress? In the meantime, Bosnia and Herzegovina was invited to join MAP. Serbia opened a Permanent Mission in Brussels and strengthened the cooperation with the Alliance within the PfP. A5 proved to be an indispensable model for all parties who have the strategic goal to join NATO, which is a formula for the permanent stability of the region. The role of US is also indispensable in the Adriatic Charter.

Since we last met in Sarajevo at the end of last year, Montenegro made steps forward in its European and Euro-Atlantic integration. We have completed the task of preparing replies for the EC Questionnaire. The SAA came into force on May 1. First meeting of the Stabilization and Association Council took place in Luxembourg, as a new form of partner dialogue between Montenegro and the EU. After we have completed the remaining obligations, we expect a positive opinion of the EC, which will recommend Montenegro for a candidate country status and for the opening of the accession negotiations in near future. The positive effects of the visa liberalization for the citizens of Montenegro are very visible. We hope Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania will soon join Montenegro, Serbia and Macedonia in this respect. We also expect that an adequate model in this sense will be found for Kosovo. We believe it is very important for a comprehensive and constructive regional dialogue that Kosovo is represented at today's meeting. We regret that the representative of Serbia is not here for this reason. We believe in dialogue among all in the Balkans in near future, regardless of the sensitivity of the issues and opposing positions.

Montenegro also achieved significant results in Euro-Atlantic integration. Two-year IPAP cycle was concluded with the adoption of the final report at the NAC meeting in June, chaired by the Secretary General of NATO. We have prepared draft of the first MAP Annual National Plan, which was forwarded to the experts in Brussels. We expect to present the first ANP to NATO member states in September, after we receive useful suggestions, so that we can start the first cycle in October. I would like to thank Croatia and all A5 countries for their assistance, good advice and support provided during the drafting of the ANP.

In the meantime members of the Montenegrin Army have engaged in ISAF Mission. Infantry and medical team have been stationed for four months in Northern Afghanistan under German command, within the Hungarian contingent. We are preparing intensively the second and the third group of soldiers to replace them timely and without problems. The engagement in ISAF mission is a valuable experience for strengthening the readiness and capabilities of the Montenegrin Army to perform similar tasks that could come before us in the future. At the same time, it is yet another concrete proof of the commitment of Montenegro to the values of the Alliance.

Regional cooperation in which the Adriatic Charter plays an important role is a precondition for our further progress in European and Euro-Atlantic integration. It was also confirmed at the High Level Conference EU – Western Balkans in Sarajevo. The greatest recognition for us is that Montenegro was acknowledged as a factor of stability in the region. I believe that we will strengthen good neighborly cooperation in a new way through our chairmanship of the three regional initiatives in the course of this year: Central European Initiative, Adriatic-Ionian Initiative and SEECP. It will be a great experience for us before we take over the chairmanship of the A5 at the beginning of next year.

In conclusion, I would like to thank our host Croatia and Minister Jandroković for successful A5 chairmanship. I believe Macedonia will be equally successful with our sincere desire that in this period it will become a NATO member and start accession negotiations with the EU.

Thank you.