Croatia joined NATO together with Albania two days before the 23rd summit, which is being held in Baden Baden and Kehl, Germany, and in Strasbourg, France.
US President Barack Obama welcomed Croatia already in a lecture for young people in Strasbourg, saying that Croatia's membership in NATO would contribute to Europe's defence and security.
The United States strongly supports the strengthening of European defence and security. That is why we welcome Croatia and Albania and look forward to France having a stronger role in NATO, Obama said.
Before the working dinner, a cultural programme was organised in Baden Baden for participants in the meeting.
The hosts, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, and NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer welcomed each guest.
The welcome ceremony for the two new members will be held on Saturday, at a session of the North Atlantic Council in Strasbourg, when President Obama of the United States, the depositary of the Treaty of Washington, will welcome the newcomers and present the presidents and prime ministers of Croatia and Albania with copies of the treaty.
The characteristics of the 23rd NATO summit, at which the alliance will mark its 60th anniversary, are the fact that it is being held after the latest round of expansion to two new members; it is being attended by the new US President Obama for the first time; France is returning to command bodies it left in 1966; work a new strategic concept of the alliance is expected to start; and a new Secretary-General is expected to be appointed to succeed Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.
Some of the main topics on the agenda of the summit marking the alliance's 60th anniversary will also be the relations with Russia and a new US strategy for Afghanistan, in which NATO is taking part in the biggest mission in its history.
Police stepped up security in the three venues, Strasbourg, Kehl and Baden Baden, before the start of the summit on Friday afternoon after 300 people were arrested in clashes between police and protesters in Strasbourg on Thursday involving several hundred anti-NATO protesters and disaffected youths.