Croatia's membership would also demonstrate the success of the peace process in Southeast Europe, said Sanader.
He said Croatia had undergone a successful transition from a country which received peace troops to one which today participated in 11 of the UN's 18 world peace missions and also provided training in international peace-building courses.
Croatia played and is playing an influential and leading role in the provision of long-term stability, cooperation and democratic development in the entire Southeast Europe, he said.
Croatia is already negotiating European Union membership and, based on the progress of military and security reforms, is on the threshold of NATO membership as well, Sanader said, emphasising that Croatia was a pillar of stability, security and cooperation.
He also underlined the need to close the remaining outstanding issues and complete the security architecture in this part of Europe, while protecting and promoting universal values, the rule of law, human rights and democracy.
Sanader highlighted Croatia's contribution to various UN programmes and funds as well as its support to UN activities in numerous areas.
In his talk he also commented on the existing global tensions and instability, the long-standing crises destabilising regional and global security as well as on the rampant international terror, which he said fomented distrust, religious and cultural intolerance as well as serious breaches of human rights.
As a member of the global anti-terror coalition, Croatia strongly condemns international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and calls for even stronger international cooperation in the suppression of this modern age plague, he said.
In this context Sander said Croatia enjoyed excellent cooperation with the UN Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee and the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the Vienna-based UN Office on Drugs and Crime.
He also highlighted the importance of the first trials at the International Criminal Court and Croatia's full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
Sanader said the establishment of the UN Human Rights Council was a big step in the global promotion of human rights.
He thanked the countries which voted for Croatia's accession to the UN Peacebuilding Commission.
Speaking of UN reforms, Sanader said Croatia advocated a higher number of both permanent and nonpermanent Security Council members based on regional representation.
The Eastern European Group would have two nonpermanent members in the expanded Council, he said, advocating a better representation of developing and small and medium-sized countries.
Sanader also supported the current demands for spreading world democracy, notably through international organisations such as the Community of Democracies and the UN Democracy Fund.
Also on Wednesday, Sanader gave a talk at Columbia University which focused on Croatia's integration into the EU and NATO.