Minister Grabar-Kitarović held lecture entitled Croatia on Its Way to NATO

In her lecture, Minister Grabar-Kitarović pointed out that Croatia is at the forefront of the NATO-aspiring countries and will, at the given moment, be ready for its membership, given the significant progress it has made and the reforms is has carried out – satisfied the political criteria, conducted defence reforms, made significant progress in implementing the legal and security conditions for membership.

Minister Grabar-Kitarović also stressed that Croatia expects a clear signal at the Riga Summit as regards its NATO accession, given its meeting of the set criteria and conditions, the reforms conducted, and the progress achieved.

Minister Grabar-Kitarović also pointed out that Croatia expects the NATO accession to be based on each country’s individual achievements and ambitions. For that reason, Croatia supports the regional countries’ efforts to integrate into the EU and NATO, and is willing to share its experience with them.

Minister Grabar-Kitarović emphasized the importance of public support for Croatia’s NATO accession, which the Croatian Government is well aware of and is therefore working intensively on the membership issues, and the advantages and obligations that stem from it. In order to adequately inform the public about the advantages of membership, the Government will adopt this month the Communication Strategy for Croatia’s NATO Accession.

The seminar is being held as a part of the International Summer School organised by the Atlantic Council of Croatia, in co-operation with the Friedrich Ebert, Hans Siedel, and Konrad Adenauer foundations and the NATO Public Diplomacy Division from Brussels.