ZAGREB, May 11 (Hina) - The decision on the admission of Croatia into NATO's Partnership for Peace programme is of outstanding importance for Croatia and proof that there is no regional approach as regards integration with
Euro-Atlantic institutions, Croatia's Premier Ivica Racan said on Wednesday.
ZAGREB, May 11 (Hina) - The decision on the admission of Croatia
into NATO's Partnership for Peace programme is of outstanding
importance for Croatia and proof that there is no regional approach
as regards integration with Euro-Atlantic institutions, Croatia's
Premier Ivica Racan said on Wednesday.#L#
"Today's event is extremely important for Croatia and this decision
is proof that there is no regional approach," the premier told
Croatian Television's evening news.
Racan said Croatia had joined the NATO programme faster than many
had expected, adding the joining had not been conditioned by the
situation in the region and the international situation. Croatia
agrees to regional cooperation, but not to a regional destiny, he
asserted.
"Croatia has lost many years on its road to Europe and European
integration," the premier said, adding it was necessary to work
fast to make up for lost time.
"The task ahead of us is to reach those who a decade ago looked at our
backs but have since surpassed us. We can realise this task by
working together," Racan said, adding this historic chance must not
be missed.
The premier believes the NATO decision to invite Croatia to join
Partnership for Peace is important also for Croatia's central
issue, namely the creation of new jobs. He assessed the
psychological aspect which would affect cooperation with Croatia
in economy was more important than the military one.
"The important thing is that our potential economic partners, whom
we expect to join us in particular projects and directly invest
their capital in Croatia, receive this as a message that Croatia is
a stable and safe country," the premier said.
Asked how much access to the Partnership for Peace programme would
cost Croatia and if it would call for a budget revision, Premier
Racan said he did not believe a revision would be necessary.
"The mission we immediately have to open at NATO will cost us," he
said, adding adapting the Croatian army to European standards and
reforms would also cost Croatia. "We have to carry out (the reforms)
for our sake as a democratic state, by ensuring a comparatively
small professional army with a democratic, civilian control," he
said.
(hina) ha mm