Statement
of the
Minister of Foreign Affairs Of the Republic of Croatia
Mr. Tonino Picula
Excelencies, dear friends
It is with profund satisfaction and privilege that I address this meeting
which Croatia attends for the first time as a PfP member state.
Partnership for Peace can not exist without peace. The peace in SouthEast
Europe has been hardly won and we must spare no effort to preserve it.
We are witnessing a full comittment to democracy in our part of Europe.
Croatia is a newcomer to the PfP and we stand ready to continue to actively
contribute to the peace and stability in the region, to promote regional
cooperation and to extend all support to our partners Rom the Euro-Atlantic
family. Once being assisted by the international community herself, Croatia
is standing ready to take proactive stance towards her own environment,
especially towards Bosnia and Herzegovina and FRY.
In order to achieve long-lasting stability throughout South-East Europe,
we must primarily focus on the situation is Serbia, that continues to
be a source of destabilization.
As long as Slobodan Milosevic's regime remains in power, the regional
stability shall be in jeopardy.
Therefore, we must encourage democratic social and political forces in
Serbia, as well as to continue supporting democratic government of
Montenegro.
In Kosovo Seurity Council resolution 1244 should remain a bedrock for
the comprehensive international effort to bring post-war stability, reconciliation
and recovery to this troubled area.
Croatia is ready to share its own experience, particularly in the field
of promoting return of refugees and introducing confidence building measures
in ethnicaly mixed areas, in joining international efforts in Kosovo.
In this regard I can inform you that Croatia has offered its experienced
police instructors for the Police academy in Vucitrn, Kosovo.
Stability Pact for South-East Europe remains an important framework for
strenghtening stability, democracy and economic development in the region.
Croatia has been active in this process &om its very beginning, and
shall continue to do so.
Stability Pact and in particular Regional Financial Conference which
recently took place in Brussels, promised a lot to the region. Now it
is time for the decisive step, i.e. a constructive impatience.
Excellencies,
at the end let me emphasize once again that Croatia is determined to
play an active role of the generator and promotor of stability in South-East
Europe. The PfP membership is a strong impetus for my country and a framework
that shall enable us to fulfill our role even more success fuly.
I thank you for your attention.
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