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Remarks by Ivo Sanader, Prime Minister of Croatia, on the ceremony marking the accession to NATO in the Cour d'Honneur
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Remarks by Ivo Sanader, Prime Minister of Croatia, on the ceremony marking the accession to NATO in the Cour d'Honneur
Monsieur le Secrétaire général, Cher Jaap,
Monsieur le Premier ministre, Cher Sali Berisha,
Monsieur le Ministre des Affaires étrangeres,
Mr. Dean of the North Atlantic Council,
Permanent Representatives,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today is our day of joy and celebration. Today, we have raised the Croatian flag at NATO Headquarters, which will represent, alongside the other 27 Allied banners, the shared values, such as freedom, peace, democracy, rule of law, human rights, and social market economy.
Today, after many testing years and despite all difficulties, we can proudly say that we have succeeded!
This is certainly a moment to cherish. It is a day of true historic importance for both Croatia and NATO, because we have achieved this goal together.
On this special occasion, I want to express my gratitude to you, Mr. Secretary General, and to the entire Alliance for the support given to Croatia on our path to full membership in NATO.
It was – I am sure you would all agree – a demanding path with risks and difficulties. Yet, our joint commitment to the values of freedom and democracy gave us the strength to achieve our common goal.
It is with this spirit of success and genuine solidarity that Croatia joins the Alliance. Full fledged membership in NATO has been a strategic objective for Croatia since our independence. And today's flag raising ceremony marks one of the biggest achievements in Croatia's modern history.
The Croatian flag, which is waving before us, represents the generations of Croats who looked forward to the day when Croatia would be a sovereign nation anchored in the Euro-Atlantic structures of peace and democracy.
It stands for the bravery of more than 15,000 defenders who gave their lives for the freedom and independence of Croatia.
It stands for the success of a proud country, which also had the wisdom and the courage to take the path of reconciliation, development and progress.
This flag at NATO Headquarters stands for our success, and for our commitment to succeed in defending and promoting, together with our Allies, the values we all share.
At its 60th anniversary, which we marked last weekend in Strasbourg and Kehl, NATO proved to be, once again, the cornerstone of transatlantic cooperation in the protection and advancement of the cause of international peace and stability.
In this sense, let me stress that even before our accession to NATO, the Croatian flag was waving alongside other Allied flags in the mountains and valleys of Afghanistan, and that our flag will continue to fly there as a symbol of our full commitment to the success of the ISAF mission.
Fully aware of our new rights and responsibilities, Croatia will be a reliable Ally.
Acknowledging our own transformation from a security consumer to a security provider, we will be ready to support other countries that are willing to make use of the benefits of peace, freedom and democracy.
In particular, we will advocate a clear Euro-Atlantic perspective for all countries in South East Europe, based on their own merits and their fulfillment of necessary standards.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today is a day of celebration in Zagreb and Tirana, and I take this opportunity to congratulate Prime Minister Sali Berisha.
However, I also want to stress here that I look forward to the day when Skopje will have its day of celebration as well.
I want to send a message of encouragement to our friends in Bosnia-Herzegovina. They too have the right to a Euro-Atlantic future – a future where Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a single country of three constituent and equal peoples, will develop and prosper in peace and stability.
Montenegro can also count on Croatia's firm support as it continues to advance along its already started path towards Euro-Atlantic structures.
The doors of NATO should also remain open for Serbia, with whom we will advocate even closer cooperation. This is especially relevant for the stability of Kosovo, which Croatia also fully supports.
To all nations in the neighboring region, I want to send a very clear message from Brussels: with the raising of our flag at NATO Headquarters, we are also raising even higher our commitment to a Euro-Atlantic perspective for every country in South East Europe.
Mr. Secretary General, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Waving high, together with the other 27 Allied banners, the Croatian flag is being raised today to give a permanent testimony of our commitment to the unity of this Alliance in defending and promoting the values and principles enshrined in the Washington Treaty.
As President Harry Truman said 60 years ago, this Treaty is a very simple document.
Yet, as with all great endeavors, it is because of its simplicity that the Treaty brought six decades of peace and prosperity to Europe and North America.
This flag-raising ceremony confirms that Croatia has become an integral part of that European and Euro-Atlantic reality. And because of that, today is our day of joy and celebration.
Je vous remercie de votre attention.
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