REYKJAVIK/ZAGREB, May 15 (Hina) - At a meeting of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) in Reykjavik, Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula on Wednesday held a speech about the EAPC's role in the fight against
terrorism.
REYKJAVIK/ZAGREB, May 15 (Hina) - At a meeting of the Euro-Atlantic
Partnership Council (EAPC) in Reykjavik, Croatian Foreign Minister
Tonino Picula on Wednesday held a speech about the EAPC's role in
the fight against terrorism. #L#
As a representative of a country which "painfully experienced a
lack of security on its territory," Picula said that the
contribution of every country to the anti-terrorist coalition
began on its own soil.
"Being aware of this necessity, Croatia has strengthened overall
security measures and quickened the process of adjusting its
legislature," he said.
Picula said Croatia stepped up its cooperation with neighbouring
countries both on the bilateral level and within the framework of
regional associations, by signing agreements on cooperation in the
fight against organised crime, the abuse of narcotics and terrorism
with 18 countries, while 31 are being prepared for signing.
Picula also spoke about the future of the Partnership for Peace
programme in the light of announcements of a thorough
reorganisation of NATO, faced with new challenged to Euro-Atlantic
security after the September 11 attacks.
Picula ended his speech by proposing concrete steps which should
contribute to the fight against the "terrorism epidemic".
Among the proposals he made were reviews of the legal and security
systems of each country, cooperation with neighbours in the control
of borders, exchange of information, and control of land, sea and
air, as well as the formation of special EAPC forces capable of
urgent response in case of terrorist activities.
Croatia wants the Partnership for Peace to develop in a coordinated
and balanced manner, and the struggle against terrorism provides
possibilities for this, he said.
At the meeting in Reykjavik Croatia was accepted into the NATO
Membership Action Plan, and was thus promoted into a candidate for
full membership in the organisation.
The implementation of the MAP, to last three years, will begin in
September in Croatia.
(hina) lml sb