ZAGREB, May 10 (Hina) - NATO's decision to invite Croatia into its Partnership for Peace programme was applauded by Croatian senior officials, politicians and diplomats Wednesday. "By entering into the Partnership for Peace Croatia is
entering in big style into Europe's integration," Croatian President Stipe Mesic said. He held this was the first serious step Croatia had overcome to achieve its strategic goal, which is the European Union. He added Croatia still needs to join the World Trade Organisation and overcome a few more steps, but was obviously entering Europe's union in style. Defence Minister Jozo Rados expressed satisfaction with Croatia's accession into the Partnership for Peace. He asserted this meant a gradual modernisation and better conditions for the restructuring of the Defence Ministry and armed forces. US Ambassador to Croatia, William Montgomery assessed this was a tremendous achievement
ZAGREB, May 10 (Hina) - NATO's decision to invite Croatia into its
Partnership for Peace programme was applauded by Croatian senior
officials, politicians and diplomats Wednesday.
"By entering into the Partnership for Peace Croatia is entering in
big style into Europe's integration," Croatian President Stipe
Mesic said.
He held this was the first serious step Croatia had overcome to
achieve its strategic goal, which is the European Union.
He added Croatia still needs to join the World Trade Organisation
and overcome a few more steps, but was obviously entering Europe's
union in style.
Defence Minister Jozo Rados expressed satisfaction with Croatia's
accession into the Partnership for Peace. He asserted this meant a
gradual modernisation and better conditions for the restructuring
of the Defence Ministry and armed forces.
US Ambassador to Croatia, William Montgomery assessed this was a
tremendous achievement by the new Croatian Government. He held
NATO's decision was a recognition to the Croatian people,
Government and President Mesic, and opened new opportunities for
Croatia.
This shows NATO's and the West's full support to the changes in
Croatia, Montgomery said.
President of the Democratic Centre party, Mate Granic, said the
entry into the Partnership for Peace was his orientation while he
was foreign minister, and it was the current orientation of his
party.
Vladimir Seks of the Croatian Democratic Union said he was very
satisfied with Croatia's accession into the Partnership for Peace.
He assessed the achievement was on the trail of the former Croatian
policy, and Croatia had thus drawn even closer to NATO and
accelerated its voyage towards European associations.
Vice-president of the Liberal Party Zlatko Kramaric also expressed
satisfaction, assessing that by entering the Partnership for
Peace, the standards of the Croatian army would be lifted to
standards of the most democratic of countries.
Accession into the Partnership for Peace was also hailed by MP and
president of the Croatian Party of Rights Ante Djapic, who,
however, wondered what price had been paid in order to achieve
this.
"Have we by accession lost a part of ourselves, a part we should not
have lost," Djapic asked.
(hina) lml jn