First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Vesna Pusic delivered an address on the second day of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s 59th annual session in Dubrovnik at the Political Committee on “Priorities of Regional Security Policy – Croatian Perspective”.
Pusic highlighted the political dimension of NATO as a military segment in the function of political prevention of conflicts. She stressed the importance of lasting institutional stability, stability of states, the role of NATO and its members, and the reforms required for NATO accession. “NATO is a reform instrument of sorts that contributes to the country’s stability,” Pusic said. Pusic discussed the readiness of countries in the region for NATO membership, notably Montenegro, which is ready, as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina, for which it is important that the Membership Action Plan be unblocked. “This requires meeting certain requirements on the part of BiH, but I think they are close and that we as neighbours and NATO members should adopt a proactive stance in communicating with the BiH authorities,” said the minister. “If one thinks that Southeast Europe or the Balkans mean importing specific regional problems into NATO, it is too late to worry about that, as they have already been imported by admitting other Balkan countries such as ourselves, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece and Slovenia. However, that has proven to be a plus, not a minus,” Pusic concluded.
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