The goal of the conference was to ensure a platform for the discussion about past achievements, current activities and measures of future action aimed at creating the preconditions for lasting peace and stability, as well as to outline Croatia’s contribution to the preserving of peace in the form of Croatian contingents’ participation in peacekeeping missions around the world. The discussion also strove to provide the answers to new security challenges, as well as an overview of the activities of all international actor concerning the preservation of global peace.
Minister Jandroković held a speech during the first panel entitled “Building Synergy and Comprehensive Approach – UN, NATO, EU and National Perspectives”.
Saying that this anniversary in the best way shows the importance Croatia has and the role it plays on the international scene, the Minister pointed out that Croatia in a short time had grown from a recipient country into a well-recognized participant in the international peacekeeping missions. Also, not long after the gaining of its independence, the victory over aggression, and reconstruction, Croatia became a member of the collective defense system, as well as an important contributor to international security. Today, Croatia is not only actively participating in the peacekeeping efforts of all the major international actors – the UN, NATO, UN and OSCE, but is also preparing representatives of other countries for their taking part in the international peacekeeping missions, said the Minister.
The Minister further pointed out that, in light of its strategic foreign-policy orientation and as a responsible member of the international community, Croatia recognizes the importance of active participation in the peacekeeping missions conducive to solving issues the peaceful way. Today, it is undoubtedly one of the crucial instruments of Croatia’s foreign and security policy.
He also emphasized that during our ten-year participation in peacekeeping mission, we had gained valuable experience which contributed to the preparations for Croatia’s Euro-Atlantic integration, especially the realization of one of the strategic foreign-policy goals – NATO membership. Participation in the ISAF operation in Afghanistan, together with over 40 other countries – nearly all of them NATO and EU members, is without a doubt the height of Croatia’s contribution to international security and stability.
Minister Jandroković said that today the international community is paying more attention to development assistance, as well as to supporting the strengthening of civil society, the rule of law, and establishing democracy in the countries in which the operations are taking place. Therefore, the international peacekeeping operations include more and more experts in various fields, who with their experience and knowledge directly contribute to the building of a society, at the same time transferring them in order to ensure stability and prosperity of a country after the withdrawal of international forces. He pointed out that Croatia is also engaged in the development assistance system for Afghanistan, as part of which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration donated to the Food for Education project in the Badakhshan Province in North Afghanisan, where a Croatian team led by one of our diplomats is taking part in the Provincial Reconstruction Team.
Concluding his speech, the Minister thanked the participants and all of those who contributed to Croatia’s success in the international peacekeeping missions, thereby directly contributing to Croatia’s national security, as well as those who made it possible for a former recipient of international assistance to become an important and well-recognized actor augmenting the international security.