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| "Source: HINA/FaH" |
The ceremony of hoisting the Croatian flag at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels saw the presence of Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. The flag, in accordance with the English alphabet, hangs fifth in line, in between the Canadian and the flag of the Czech Republic. On that occasion, it was pointed out that full-fledged NATO membership has been Croatia’s strategic goal since its gaining of independence and represents one of the greatest achievements in its modern history.
A special gratitude was extended to all of the Croatian defenders who took part in defending their homeland and contributed to turning Croatia into an active factor of international security and stability.
Present at the ceremony of hoisting the flag in front of the Ministry of Defence in Zagreb were President of the Republic of Croatia Stjepan Mesić, Parliament Speaker Luka Bebić, Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, and other highest Croatian political and military officials. It was pointed out that Croatia’s NATO membership represents the crown of the efforts by the Croatian society as a whole in assuming an active role in the international community. The present parties remembered the sacrifice and courage of the Croatian homeland defenders, who had achieved victory in an imposed war, and expressed pride in members of the Croatian Armed Forces, who daily prove their dedication to the common values in peace-keeping missions around the world.
Croatia’s joining the North Atlantic Alliance was also commemorated with a ceremony at the Croatian National Theatre in the presence of the entire state leadership and representatives of the Armed Forces, judicial authority, political parties, religious communities, and the diplomatic corps.