ZAGREB, June 24 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic and NATO Secretary-General held talks on Monday on the margins of a NATO conference "NATO, Croatia and Southeastern Europe" in Zagreb.
ZAGREB, June 24 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic and NATO
Secretary-General held talks on Monday on the margins of a NATO
conference "NATO, Croatia and Southeastern Europe" in Zagreb. #L#
After the meeting Mesic told reporters that during their 30-minute-
long meeting Robertson and he discussed difficulties Zagreb would
meet on the path towards Atlantic integration.
"We are on the right track, but the Croatian Army should completely
be depoliticised and transformed into a peace-time organisation as
well as standardised like other members of the Alliance," Mesic
said.
Robertson congratulated Zagreb on its admission into NATO's
Membership Action Plan (MAP) and hailed its aspirations to full
membership in NATO.
The membership in the Alliance will bring many benefits to Croatian
citizens, but it will also bring many obligations and
responsibilities. The MAP is just the beginning, and there is a long
path towards the aim, Robertson said.
He supported the course of reforms in the Croatian military.
In Robertson's mind, it is absolutely necessary for Croatia to
substantially reduce its army and depoliticise it, and he promised
the international assistance in such bids.
(hina) ms