30 Jan. 2006

Croatian Prime Minister visits NATO News 30/01/2006 - OTAN Visit by Croatian Prime Minister to NATO Background Membership Action Plan Multimedia High resolution photos Opening statement in the NAC Opening statement in the NAC Joint press point In an address to the North Atlantic Council on 30 January, Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader said that membership in NATO and the EU was his country’s top priority. The Prime Minister visited NATO HQ to brief the Council, NATO’s principal decision-making body, on the progress of reforms in his country and to discuss the situation in the Balkans in general. Mr. Sanader also met for talks with the NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. “For us NATO is about values, values such as freedom, democracy, rule of law…,” the Prime Minister stressed in his opening statement. Arrest well-received At a joint press conference, the Secretary General said that the recent arrest of General Ante Gotovina, indicted for war crimes, was very well received at NATO. He reiterated that the road to NATO membership was performance-based, but also that NATO remains committed to assisting Croatia in its efforts. “It is crystal clear that the NATO Allies fully support Croatia ’s ambitions for NATO membership, ” Mr. De Hoop Scheffer told reporters, “I am of the strong conviction that Euro-Atlantic integration is the only recipe for lasting peace and continuing security and stability in the Balkans.” The Secretary General also said that the Prime Minister expressed Croatia’s intent to increase its contribution to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. Croatia is one of three countries that are part of the Membership Action Plan, a NATO programme of advice, assistance and practical support tailored to the individual needs of countries wishing to join the Alliance. A NATO team will visit Croatia soon to further assess the progress of reforms. Prime Minister Sanader last visited NATO HQ in January 2004.