REYKJAVIK/ZAGREB, May 14 (Hina) - The decision of NATO's Foreign Ministers to admit Croatia into Membership Action Plan (MAP) encourages Croatia to persevere in the process of reforms and do everything to meet the criteria for full
NATO membership, Croatia's Foreign Minister Tonino Picula said on Tuesday in Reykjavik.
REYKJAVIK/ZAGREB, May 14 (Hina) - The decision of NATO's Foreign
Ministers to admit Croatia into Membership Action Plan (MAP)
encourages Croatia to persevere in the process of reforms and do
everything to meet the criteria for full NATO membership, Croatia's
Foreign Minister Tonino Picula said on Tuesday in Reykjavik. #L#
The NATO ministers have confirmed Croatia's accession to MAP and
acknowledged the progress achieved in reforms and partnership with
NATO as well as its contribution to stability in the Balkans, Picula
said.
The NATO Ministers welcome Croatia's participation in MAP and call
on Croatia to submit its first Annual National Programme (ANP) this
autumn, a statement issued after today's meeting of the North
Atlantic Council (NAC) noted.
This statement is a great encouragement for Croatia to persevere in
the process of reform within the army and adapt so as to meet the
criteria for NATO membership, Picula said.
Croatia has been given credit for its contribution to stability in
the region and for making the most of opportunities offered by
membership in the Partnership for Peace programme, Euro-Atlantic
Partnership Council and the Intensive Dialogue programme, he
added.
Croatia must contribute to stability in the region and strengthen
its own credibility in security matters as a partner to NATO
members, he added.
He said that he would inform his colleagues of reforms conducted in
the Croatian army as well as political and economic activities and
cooperation with neighbouring countries at Wednesday's meeting of
the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council.
(hina) sp