Minister Grabar-Kitarović participated at meeting of US-Adriatic Charter members and Baltic states’ foreign and defence ministers in Tallinn

The Tallinn meeting is a continuation of the process begun during Croatia’s presidency over the US-Adriatic Charter for the purposes of strengthening co-operation and exchanging the experiences in the process of preparations for NATO membership. The main topics of the meeting included the NATO enlargement in view of the forthcoming 2008 summit, strengthening of partnership, regional co-operation and security issues, and the issues of European security.

In her presentation, Minister Grabar-Kitarović pointed out that Croatia has recognised the strengthening of partnership with NATO as a key element in ensuring the security and stability, and strengthening the progress and democracy both in South East Europe and within a wider Euro-Atlantic context. Long-term stability of South East Europe requires co-operation among all of the countries in the region, the establishment of neighbourly relations, and finding mutually acceptable solutions to all open issues, said the Minister, pointing out that the Republic of Croatia is willing to offer all necessary assistance to the new Partnership for Peace members, continuing in that way the policy of strengthening the regional co-operation.

After the meeting, Minister Grabar-Kitarović and Defence Minister Berislav Rončević took part in the joint meeting of the US-Adriatic Charter and the three Baltic states’ (A3+B3) foreign and defence ministers on the subject “More Partners for NATO, More Stability for Europe”. Also taking part at the meeting were the foreign ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, as well as high officials from Serbia.

Noting the last year’s NATO summit in Riga, Minister Grabar-Kitarović expressed satisfaction with the positive signals sent to Croatia as the most promising full-NATO-membership aspirant, adding that Croatia is determined in its intention to fully implement the already-begun reform processes, pointing out the need for strengthening the relations with the Croatian public so as to ensure its valid and sustainable support for Croatia’s NATO membership.

Welcoming the decision to further strengthen NATO’s engagement in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan, Minister Grabar-Kitarović emphasised Croatia’s active role in the efforts to ensure peace and stability in the country. Croatia’s contribution to ISAF is the Croatian Government’s long-term priority, said Minister Grabar-Kitarović, informing the ministers about the Croatian Parliament’s decision to increase the number of the Croatian Armed Forces’ members in Afghanistan to 200 during 2007, and to 300 during 2008. She also mentioned the possibility of Croatia’s assuming the leadership over one of the Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) and other forms of Croatia’s assistance in the setting up and development of social institutions in modern Afghanistan.

Minister Grabar-Kitarović invited on behalf of the Croatian Government the prime ministers of the countries taking part at the meeting to participate at the “Croatia Summit 2007: Europe’s New South” – a meeting of the EU and NATO members and SEE countries' prime ministers, to be held 6 and 7 July 2007 in Dubrovnik.

Minister Grabar-Kitarović met in Tallinn with Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and Foreign Minister Urmas Paet. Minister Grabar-Kitarović and Defence Minister Berislav Rončević also held a bilateral meeting with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Petras Vaitiekunas and Defence Minister Juozas Olekas, with whom they discussed the further strengthening of co-operation, especially within the ISAF mission in Afghanistan.