Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Gordan Jandroković participated in NATO ministerial meeting, Brussels

The meeting’s topic was the situation in Afghanistan and Southeast Europe, with an emphasis on the situation in Kosovo

The meeting’s topic was the situation in Afghanistan and Southeast Europe, with an emphasis on the situation in Kosovo, as well as the preparation for the 2012 Chicago summit.

In his opening speech, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen thanked Minister Jandroković for the successful cooperation and proud representation of Croatia in NATO, pointing out that it was precisely during his mandate that Croatia had become a NATO member.

Minister Jandroković expressed concern over the situation in Kosovo, saying it was unsustainable and needed to be resolved as soon as possible. He pointed out the key role of KFOR in preventing the escalation of conflict, which has confirmed the need for continued military presence. Condemning the violence against members of KFOR and EULEX, saying it threatened to destabilize the region as a whole.

In that regard, Minister Jandroković stressed the importance of strategic messages from all three sides – Serbia, Kosovo and the international community. Serbia is expected to send a clear and constructive message on resolving the conflict through peaceful dialogue. The Kosovar authorities are expected to focus on the plans to improve the living standard of and provide a better future for its people. Finally, it is important that the messages coming from the international community be unified, coordinated and agreed on at all the levels and among different actors, namely NATO and the EU. All of the messages need to be followed by concrete activities, concluded Minister Jandroković.

Later in the day, the ministers discussed the other topics of the Chicago summit scheduled for May the following year. They reviewed the issues of missile defence cooperation and the relations between NATO and Russia, and discussed the current situation in North Africa and the Middle East, as well as cooperation with NATO partner countries.

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