Statement

by Minister of Defence of the Republic of Croatia
H.E. Mr. Berislav Roncevic
Meeting of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council

Mr. Secretary General,

Croatia values the EAPC as an important mechanism for an open dialogue between Allies and Partners, and as a proven tool for fostering closer cooperation on common security issues.

Security priorities of the NATO community of nations are also Croatian security priorities. Croatia has learned to appreciate the immense political and operational value of NATO's partnership, which has been proven through missions and operations.

In preparing its forces for participation in NATO-led operations Croatia has relied mostly on PARP and OCC. Effectiveness of these processes in our case is reflected in our active participation in ISAF, which has been increased continuously. We plan to further increase our contribution to ISAF to 300 soldiers next year. We have also accepted the Istanbul criteria of 8% sustainable and 40% deployabie forces. From 2012. we plan to have a reinforced battalion group ready for one six-month deployment.

For Croatia, PARP has another, far reaching and much wider role - it has helped us to prepare the entire defense system for membership in NATO. We use Partnership goals as a guiding force in development of our defense system.

Croatia has declared a single set of forces for NATO and EU operations. Similarly, we will mobilize forces from the same pool for our planned contribution to the NRF and EU Battle Groups, as well. As a future member of both organizations, we welcome the effort of achieving closer cooperation and increased efficiency in order to avoid unnecessary duplication, while respecting autonomy of both organizations.

In line with that, let me say that Croatia supports and fully accepts the PARP Ministerial Guidance 2007.

Croatia is committed to contributing to a safer and stable security environment. In that sense we are ready to explore other mechanisms and initiatives that will help us achieve that goal. For that reason Croatia decided to take part in Active Endeavor, and is currently negotiating practical modalities of its participation. Our contribution will be modest at first, based primarily on the exchange of information. However, as capabilities of our Navy grow, our contribution will gradually get bigger. Croatia fully supports the intention of NATO to demonstrate-by its presence in the Mediterranean—its determination to fight terrorism and other pressing security challenges at sea.

Croatia actively co-operates with the other two MAP countries in the framework of the US-Adriatic Charter. Let me also add here that Croatia welcomes the new PfP members: Montenegro, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina and their intention to take part in PARP. We see their active participation in PfP as an encouraging sign of increased stability and further integration of South East Europe into Euro-Atlantic structures.