ZAGREB/MUNICH, Feb 3 (Hina) - The opening of European Union and NATO doors to countries in which democracy is in development will be the best way to solidify the security of the European continent, Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino
Picula said on Saturday.
ZAGREB/MUNICH, Feb 3 (Hina) - The opening of European Union and NATO
doors to countries in which democracy is in development will be the
best way to solidify the security of the European continent,
Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula said on Saturday.#L#
"There is a common wisdom that democracies do not fight wars against
each other, and I believe that democratisation and integration in
Euro-Atlantic structures is the most powerful conflict prevention
mechanism," Picula said in his address on transatlantic relations
and Europe's security and defence identity at the 37th Munich
Conference on Security Policy.
"If you want to assist new democracies in becoming self-sustainable
market economies and fully functioning democratic societies, they
have to be given a very clear prospect of joining EU and NATO. The
prospect of integration is the best incentive for reforms," he
said.
The two-day international conference has gathered foreign and
defence ministers and other security policy experts. It was opened
by German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. Also in attendance is the
new United States Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld.
Recalling that Croatia joined NATO's Partnership for Peace and the
Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council in May last year, Picula said he
expected Croatia would join the Membership Action Plan by the end of
this spring.
Croatia seeks to be a factor of stability in the region, as well as a
reliable partner, the foreign minister also said.
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