In a hearing for the confirmation of the candidacy before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on Wednesday, Bradtke said Croatia was at a crucial moment of its history, standing on the verge of full membership of the EU and NATO. Neither diplomats not journalists were present.
Bradtke said the United States believed Croatia's NATO and EU membership would give a new dimension to US-Croatia partnership, strengthen both NATO and the EU, and constitute a significant step for peace, security and progress throughout Southeast Europe.
In his statement to the Senate Committee, which Hina received on Thursday, Bradtke said the US had worked bilaterally and multilaterally, through mechanisms such as the US-Adriatic Charter, to help Croatia prepare for joining the EU and NATO.
Answering questions related to NATO, Bradtke said Croatia was working hard on preparations to join the alliance and that it could expect to be invited to join in 2008 if it met the necessary terms, Hina learned from circles which were present at the hearing.
Bradtke said Croatia had already achieved impressive results in overcoming the legacy of last decade's wars, the years of communism and centuries of foreign rule, and that now it had to work hard on political, economic and defence reforms.
Croatia must continue to strengthen its democracy through the rule of law, eradication of corruption and completion of the difficult process of refugee return and reintegration, said Bradtke.
US President George W. Bush nominated Bradtke as new ambassador to Croatia in April. The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations is expected to vote on the candidacy soon and Bradtke might come to Croatia in the early summer.
Bradtke is a career diplomat who until recently served as US state secretary deputy assistant in charge of Europe and Eurasia. He became a US diplomat in 1973 and served in Zagreb 28 years ago at the US Consulate General.