Croatia is marking today the 21st anniversary of its admission to the United Nations, i.e. the adoption of resolution 75, recommending the General Assembly that Croatia be admitted as a full-fledged member. This act represented international recognition of our country’s independence and sovereignty as well as the pinnacle of its diplomatic efforts.
The United Nations have played an important role in stopping further aggression against Croatia and in the peaceful reintegration of its territory. Croatia has since gradually transformed from an object into a subject of international policy, i.e. from a recipient to a provider of development aid, and in a short period of time, relative to its size, has become one of the pillars of peace and stability in the region as well as globally. Special contribution in that regard is being given by the Croatian armed and police forces in various UN peacekeeping missions around the globe: in Western Sahara, Haiti, Cyprus, Lebanon, Liberia, India, Pakistan and Kosovo.
During the past two decades Croatia has been actively involved in the work of the UN and has been a member of numerous important bodies. Among various achievements, we would like to highlight the pinnacle of East River diplomatic activities during 2008-2009, when Croatia became a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. This was preceded by two other memberships – ECOSOC membership and presidency (2000-2002) and PBC membership (2007). Croatia is today once again a member of ECOSOC and is participating in the Peacebuilding Commission, which it is presiding over this year.
We are also trying to join special bodies – the Human Rights Council and the Commission on the Status of Women. As before, Croatia will continue to promote dialogue and tolerance in international relations as well as contribute to the best of its ability to the realization of the values outlined in the UN Charter.