Minister Grabar-Kitarović received NATO Assistant Secretary General Martin Erdmann

During the meeting, Minister Grabar-Kitarović said that, based on the previous experiences in implementing the Annual National Programs and conducting reforms to harmonise with the NATO standards, Croatia expects to receive the membership invitation at the next NATO summit in Bucharest, April 2008. She also pointed out that Croatia fully shares the values of the international community and NATO countries, and pays special and dedicated attention to the preservation and establishment of world peace by participating in peacekeeping missions. She emphasised that is was precisely by following these principles and contributing to global efforts of spreading peace and stability that Croatia was elected a non-permanent UN Security Council member for the 2008/2009 period, which confirms that Croatia has been recognised as a reliable partner.

NATO Assistant Secretary General Erdmann noted that Croatia is making good progress in implementing all of the reforms required for NATO membership and thanked for Croatia’s contribution to numerous peacekeeping missions, namely the ISAF mission in Afghanistan. He also congratulated Minister Grabar-Kitarović on Croatia’s recent election as a non-permanent Security Council member, stressing the significance of that achievement.

The aim of the MAP/PARP team’s visit to Zagreb is to prepare the progress report on Croatia during the 6th MAP cycle and on the eve of the NATO Summit in Bucharest. To that end, during its stay in Zagreb, the delegation held meetings with the representatives of all relevant Croatian bodies.