ZAGREB, May 22 (Hina) - Croatia's admission to the UN ten years ago was more than mere acknowledgement, Foreign Minister Tonino Picula said in Zagreb on Wednesday. It was a big support to the defence of Croatia's sovereignty and
integrity, he added.
ZAGREB, May 22 (Hina) - Croatia's admission to the UN ten years ago
was more than mere acknowledgement, Foreign Minister Tonino Picula
said in Zagreb on Wednesday. It was a big support to the defence of
Croatia's sovereignty and integrity, he added. #L#
Picula today staged a reception at the Foreign Ministry on the
occasion of Croatia's ten-year membership in the United Nations. In
attendance were representatives of the diplomatic corps, Croatian
President Stjepan Mesic, politicians, and journalists.
Membership in the UN rounded the first determining stage in the
international affirmation of Croatia. Croatia has increased its
participation in UN work ever since, said Picula.
"Today Croatia is developing as a free and democratic state in
transition, in conditions of an increasingly higher degree of
regional stability, to which goal (Croatia) independently
contributes as well. (Croatia) maintains regular diplomatic
relations with 120 states," Picula said, recalling that only seven
foreign embassies were in Zagreb when Croatia joined the UN in
1992.
Since then many peace troops stayed in Croatia, and only the UN
observer mission in Prevlaka, the southern tip bordering on
Montenegro, is still here, Picula said. "We expect that very soon
even the last few UN observers will leave our territory in the
southern-most part of the Croatian coast," he explained.
Croatia has transformed itself from a "state receiving" UN troops
into a "provider" of peace units. Today its soldiers are serving in
Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, and Eritreia.
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