Minister Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović met with NATO’s Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer

Minister Grabar-Kitarović informed Secretary General Scheffer about the current political situation in Croatia and the region, the opening of the accession negotiation with the EU, and Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte’s report on Croatia’s full co-operation with the ICTY. She pointed out, however, that the co-operation will not cease, but go on.

Speaking of Croatia’s role in South Eastern Europe, Minister Grabar-Kitarović pointed out that Croatia want to remain NATO’s reliable partner in the region and informed Scheffer about Croatia’s efforts in regional co-operation.

Minister Grabar-Kitarović handed Secretary General Scheffer the national 2005-2006 Action Plan for joining NATO, stressing that NATO membership is one of Croatia’s foreign policy priorities.

Secretary General Scheffer applauded the start of the negotiations between Croatia and the EU, expressing his satisfaction with Carla del Ponte’s report, as full co-operation with the ICTY is a condition for NATO membership as well.

Speaking about the perspectives for NATO membership, Secretary General Scheffer said that each member is expected to meet the criteria and that the start of the membership negotiations is not a matter of Summit, but of each country’s individual readiness.

At the end of the meeting, Secretary General Scheffer announced his visit to Croatia in November 2005.