ZAGREB, Oct 4 (Hina) - Political criteria are the most important on Croatia's path towards NATO, so NATO pays close attention to Zagreb's cooperation with the UN war crimes tribunal at The Hague, a Croatian official said on Friday at
the presentation of the first Croatian Annual Programme within NATO's Membership Action Plan (MAP).
ZAGREB, Oct 4 (Hina) - Political criteria are the most important on
Croatia's path towards NATO, so NATO pays close attention to
Zagreb's cooperation with the UN war crimes tribunal at The Hague, a
Croatian official said on Friday at the presentation of the first
Croatian Annual Programme within NATO's Membership Action Plan
(MAP). #L#
The programme was presented at the Foreign Ministry after Croatia's
permanent representative to NATO, Ambassador Anton Tus, handed it
to the NATO secretary-general's assistant for politics, Guenther
Altenburg, in Brussels earlier today.
"Political criteria are the most important for integration into
NATO... and in that respect NATO pays close attention to
(Croatia's) cooperation with the Hague tribunal," said Zoran
Milanovic, the president of a government task force for Croatia's
relations with NATO and for the MAP.
He added, however, that the Croatian government had taken all legal
means at its disposal and that Croatia continued to cooperate with
the Hague tribunal.
NATO has this week warned Croatia that it has to cooperate with the
tribunal in connection with an indictment against retired General
Janko Bobetko, a former military chief-of-staff.
The Croatian Annual Programme's first chapter covers political and
economic issues, including cooperation with the Hague tribunal,
the obligation of regional cooperation, cooperation in
international organisations, refugee returns, and
reconstruction. This chapter also deals with military and defence
issues, resources, security issues, and legal harmonisation.
By submitting this programme, Croatia has launched its first year-
long cycle in the MAP.
Croatia was invited to join the MAP, the last step before admission
to NATO, in Reykjavik last May. This programme guides states
aspiring to membership in creating a more efficient state
administration and reforming the defence and security system to
adjust them to NATO standards as much as possible.
The Croatian Annual Programme announces the concrete activities
Croatia will undertake between this autumn and next summer to
prepare for membership in NATO.
Croatia has to implement several annual national programmes before
officially applying for membership.
Speaking of expectations from a NATO summit in Prague in November,
Milanovic said Zagreb expected "the further affirmation of the open
doors policy" and NATO's commitment "to continue expanding".
(hina) ha sb