BRUSSELS, Feb 15 (Hina) - NATO Secretary-General George Robertson said the this alliance applauded political changes which recent elections brought about in Croatia. Robertson added that during his talks with Croatia's Premier Ivica
Racan on Tuesday they had agreed on a joint programme of activities for enabling Croatia to take part as an observer in the Partnership for Peace Programme.
BRUSSELS, Feb 15 (Hina) - NATO Secretary-General George Robertson
said the this alliance applauded political changes which recent
elections brought about in Croatia.
Robertson added that during his talks with Croatia's Premier Ivica
Racan on Tuesday they had agreed on a joint programme of activities
for enabling Croatia to take part as an observer in the Partnership
for Peace Programme.#L#
On Tuesday Croatia's Prime Minister Racan held a meeting with and
Robertson in the NATO headquarters in Brussels and subsequently
with 19 permanent representatives of NATO member-countries in the
Belgian capital.
Assessing the talks as meaningful and good, Racan told reporters
that he had handed over a document to NATO Secretary General in
which Zagreb officially expressed its wish to be admitted to the
Partnership for Peace and that it was expecting a positive answer
from NATO very soon.
"Yesterday, during our meetings with European Union officials we
made a great step towards the Union, and today we are making such
step towards NATO," the Croatian Premier said and voiced
satisfaction with the talks he held during his two-day stay in
Brussels.
Premier Racan assumed post after the elections which manifested
Croatia's wish to cooperate with the democratic West and NATO
warmly greets the changes, NATO Secretary-General Robertson told
reporters whom he and Premier Racan together addressed after their
talks in Brussels.
We are sure that Croatia will set an example to other countries in
the region, the Briton said and pointed to the orientation of the
new Croatian Government toward the peaceful cooperation in the
region, rejection of extreme nationalism and promotion of
democracy.
NATO particularly applauds changes in the policy of the Croatian
new authorities in relation to the implementation of the Dayton
peace accords, in cooperation with the Hague-based War Crimes
Tribunal and the return of refugees, Robertson told reporters.
We discussed the step-by-step cooperation and how to make progress
in all issues I have mentioned, he said.
We have agreed on a joint programme of specific activities with
which Croatia will take part in the Partnership for Peace
programme, he added.
Racan reiterated that Croatia's strategic orientation is accession
to EuroAtlantic integration processes.
For Croatia, NATO is not just a military and defence alliance, but
something more because of its value, Racan said and expressed
pleasure with the cordial welcome of the Croatian delegation in the
NATO headquarters.
Croatia is aware of its significant geo-strategic position. We are
a small country but in the position which compels it to carry out its
role responsibly, Racan told reporters.
He said his country "is ready to take over its part of
responsibility in the region" for peace, particularly for
stability and cooperation.
(hina) ms