ZAGREB, March 16 (Hina) - The decision by the Croatian people to turn a new page in their history is so far the best news of the 21st century, NATO Secretary-General George Robertson said in Zagreb on Thursday following talks with
Croatia's Foreign Minister Tonino Picula. Robertson arrived in Zagreb for a one-day visit on Wednesday morning. "It is our ambition to start taking part in the establishment of a new security and political structure in this part of Europe by strengthening democratic process here in Croatia," Picula said, adding it was stressed at the talks that security issues could not be dealt with separately from the issue of democratic development. The foreign minister said Croatia still faced a lot of work, adding he and Robertson also discussed concrete measures the Croatian government should take in the next several months in order to strengthen its position for the admission into Pa
ZAGREB, March 16 (Hina) - The decision by the Croatian people to
turn a new page in their history is so far the best news of the 21st
century, NATO Secretary-General George Robertson said in Zagreb on
Thursday following talks with Croatia's Foreign Minister Tonino
Picula.
Robertson arrived in Zagreb for a one-day visit on Wednesday
morning.
"It is our ambition to start taking part in the establishment of a
new security and political structure in this part of Europe by
strengthening democratic process here in Croatia," Picula said,
adding it was stressed at the talks that security issues could not
be dealt with separately from the issue of democratic development.
The foreign minister said Croatia still faced a lot of work, adding
he and Robertson also discussed concrete measures the Croatian
government should take in the next several months in order to
strengthen its position for the admission into Partnership for
Peace and later NATO.
"The decision by the Croatian people to turn a new page and to turn
away from the extremism of the past I think is the best news so far of
the twenty-first century," said Robertson, adding this decision
was also "a big breakthrough for the Balkans."
"I am saying to the new government and also to the people of Croatia
- welcome to the new Europe, welcome to mainstream Europe, that is
where you belong," the NATO Secretary-General said.
Croatia has set the right example, Robertson said, adding he hoped
that "people elsewhere in the region and throughout Europe are
watching the progress that is now being made by the new government
of Croatia."
As regards admission to Partnership for Peace, Croatia will be
judged by its deeds and not words, Robertson said, adding a team of
NATO experts is currently on a visit to Zagreb, where it is
discussing with Croatian defence and government officials ways to
strengthen cooperation.
"I am here to give a message of encouragement, to say that NATO will
help," the high NATO official said, adding that some Croatian
representatives are already taking part in some Partnership for
Peace activities.
"... step by step, I hope we will make progress towards the point
where the 19 nations of NATO will agree to membership of PfP by
Croatia," Robertson said.
He added his talks with Picula also tackled other "flashpoints" in
the Balkans, including Kosovo and Montenegro.
"NATO is very aware and very concerned about these flashpoints and
will do what has to be done," he said.
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