I insisted on visiting Croatia before the NATO summit in Riga, the meeting at which invitations will not be distributed to other countries, Sheffer said. However, I expect strong and encouraging signals to be given to countries that want to join the alliance, Scheffer said.
President Mesic said he and the NATO official talked about Croatia's aspirations to join Euro-Atlantic associations as soon as possible.
Stressing that NATO membership was neglected in the Croatian public, Mesic said this was because "when one speaks of Euro-Atlantic integration, this is almost always interpreted as joining the EU".
"Joining NATO is in the interest of our security, the protection of certain values, and the most favourable solution for Croatia is to realise both objectives," Mesic said.
Mesic said the Croatian public must be informed of the benefits of joining both NATO and te EU.
Scheffer said it was up to the government to inform the public of the benefits of joining NATO, adding that the alliance would help in that. He also said Croatia must continue implementing reforms and fight corruption.
Croatia has made a great step in efforts invested in joining Euro-Atlantic associations, but this must continue and I am convinced that NATO member countries would positively assess Croatia's efforts, Scheffer said.
NATO enlargement is a process based on the assessment of individual achievements, and as far as Croatia's achievements are concerned I am an optimist, the NATO official said, stressing that the alliance is a political and military organisation founded on certain values which both NATO and Croatia want to protect.
Mesic said the talks also focused on the situation in the region, particularly after Montenegro declared independence.