Florence, Italy 25 May 2000

Opening Statement by the Foreign Minister of Croatia, Mr. T. Picula Your Excellencies, Dear Friends When almost five months ago the new Government of Croatia started bringing Croatia in line with the highest international standards and integrating her into the European and Euro-Atlantic political and economic mainstream at an accelerated pace, we - the Government of Croatia - hoped the Partnership for Peace would be the first foreign-policy achievement and the very first practical manifestation of the rapprochement between Croatia and the international community. Today, less than five months afterwards, Croatia has associated herself with NATO and the whole Euro-Atlantic community of nations encompassed by the program Partnership for Peace and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council - two initiatives of historic relevance in the post- Cold War era. I avail myself of the opportunity to thank you for having admitted Croatia to the Partnership fort Peace already at the first ministerial meeting of the North Atlantic Council following the political changes in my country. We needed this impetus and it came at the right time. Croatia fully accepts and endorses the principles and objectives set out in the PfP Framework Document as well as those in the EAPC Basic Document. These are the underlying principles of the civilization we belong to, and these are the values we all stand ready to protect, defend and live by. We are determined to bring a genuine added value to the Program. This determination stems from two reasons. The first one is self-oriented. We want to benefit from it. The other one is that our case should serve as an example to our immediate neighborhood, in particular to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The first signs of this beneficial impact are already felt. Recent municipal elections there have set a new trend. I am convinced that the trend is irreversible. We also hope that future-oriented social and political forces in Serbia will follow our example. Finally, may I say that - in the perspective - we see ourselves as a full member of the Alliance. Thus, I am also using this opportunity to announce that in the forthcoming weeks Croatia intends to formally apply for the NATO membership through the Membership Action Plan.NATO membership is one of Croatia's strategic foreign policy goals. In cooperation with the Alliance and other aspirant countries, we shall spare no efforts to materialize it. I will be delighted to take my place around the EAPC table later in the day and to work with you towards our common goals in the future, and that is, first and foremost, bringing a lasting stability to the South-East Europe. Thank you.