On 22 May 1992, Croatia was admitted as a member of the United Nations, which represents one of the key foreign-policy achievements of our country and a final chapter of sorts in our striving towards international recognition and affirmation during the early 1990s. UN membership was a precondition for the realization of other foreign-policy goals, which for Croatia, as a young democracy, was of the utmost importance.
During the 27 years of membership, Croatia has positioned itself from a recipient of UN peacekeeping missions into a country regularly sending its own military and civilian experts on peacekeeping missions worldwide. From a recipient of international development aid, Croatia has grown into a donor, helping other countries with its know-how and experience, and is also an active member of the UN, participating in a number of initiatives and reform processes.
This year, the last in its term, Croatia co-chaired the Human Rights Council. To carry on with its active engagement, Croatia will reapply in the period ahead for membership of the Security Council, ECOSOC and PBC.