State Secretary for Political Affairs Davor Božinovic held on Wednesday, 7 July 2010, the opening speech in the round table „Challenges and threats: Croatia's role in Afghanistan“ in the palace of Matica Hrvatska in Zagreb.
State Secretary for Political Affairs Davor Božinovic held on Wednesday, 7 July 2010, the opening speech in the round table „Challenges and threats: Croatia's role in Afghanistan“ in the palace of Matica Hrvatska in Zagreb. Topics of the round table organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Matica Hrvatska and Organisation for Promoting North–Atlantic Organisations, were geopolitical conditions and Croatia's role in today's Afghanistan (military and civil participation in ISAF mission, contribution to the development of democracy, cultural, diplomatic and military readiness of Croatian representatives in the ISAF mission).
In his opening speech in the round table, State Secretary Božinovic stressed that the year 2010 is crucial for achieving a long–term goal – absolute leadership of the Afghan government in fields of security, society and state management and economic development. Mentioning the reasons for which Afghanistan became the focus of interest of the international community after the terrorist attacks in 2001, Božinovic emphasized the role of ISAF (International Security Assistant Force) in the process of political and civil stabilisation of Afghanistan, as well as Croatian participation in this mission, which is also the biggest and most significant Croatian contribution to world peace and stability.
Speaking of the Croatian contingent in Afghanistan, which is currently numbering 300 members, State Secretary Božinovic stressed that it is in Croatia's interest to give professional and technical aid to Afghan people, so they could independently maintain security and stability of their country.
Božinovic concluded his speech by listing positive effects of Croatia's participation in ISAF. He especially emphasized that stronger involvement in international peace missions strengthened Croatia's readiness for NATO membership and accelerated the adaptation to NATO standards. Other countries of the region would also benefit from involvements of this kind on their Euro–Atlantic path, concluded State Secretary Božinovic.
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