The Conference, which was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, seeks to analyze contemporary security challenges in Europe, review current trends of transatlantic co–operation and offer some guidelines to future actions.

State Secretary Božinović held a speech dealing with the NATO enlargement policy. He also commented on certain aspects of the Organisation’s enlargement during the Cold War, and especially emphasized the three NATO enlargements in eastern and south–eastern Europe during the past two decades.

Stepping into the seventh decade of its existence, NATO continues to affirm itself as a political and military organisation fulfilling the point of its existence, which is defending the territory of its member countries and securing permanent stability in Europe, stressed State Secretary Božinović. He added that the NATO enlargement played the key role in that sense, acting as a political catalyst of the Organisation’s adaptation to unpredictable circumstances in international relations. It is thus of great importance that NATO continues to pay special attention to the “Open Door” policy, State Secretary Božinović concluded.

It is of Croatia’s interest for NATO to continue its “Open Door” policy, primarily in relation to south–eastern Europe, stressed State Secretary Božinović, pointing out that Croatia, as a member country, will continue to support that policy. Political and security consolidation of this area is not yet finished, meaning that Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro joining the Action plan for NATO membership is of special importance. The Vilnius Group is a political initiative that in 2000 brought together countries of central and eastern Europe which aimed at joining NATO, with the goal of political co–operation, exchanging experiences and joint lobbying for NATO membership. The Group’s member countries were Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

Press releases