PRESIDENT MESIC AND NATO SECRETARY GENERAL ON CROATIA'S JOINING NATO
President Stjepan Mesic held talks on Wednesday with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer in a bid to strengthen Croatia's candidacy for NATO membership.
PRESIDENT MESIC AND NATO SECRETARY GENERAL ON CROATIA'S JOINING NATO
President Stjepan Mesic held talks on Wednesday with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer in a bid to strengthen Croatia's candidacy for NATO membership.
The NATO Secretary General said after the talks that he informed Mesic of a recent NATO summit in Riga at which it was decided that in 2008 the alliance would invite Membership Action Plan (MAP) countries to join NATO when they are ready. Croatia, Albania, Macedonia are MAP members.
Scheffer said that in order to receive a NATO invitation it is necessary to continue with reforms, notably in the justice sector, as well as fight against corruption. He said that rising public support for NATO membership was also important.
Mesic said Croatia had already completed the main defense reform, adding that Croatian armed forced were practically brought within the frameworks of NATO standards.
"Croatia wants to secure a better life for its citizens, and to be able to do that we must fulfill our two strategic objectives - joining NATO and the EU," Mesic said.
He also added that Croatia would take part in NATO missions which would be found appropriate, adding that the role of Croatian soldiers in ISAF mission will not be changed.
Hina
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