CROATIA TO REQUEST TO JOIN NATO AS FULL MEMBER THIS AUTUMN

ZAGREB, June 10 (Hina) - Croatia has made first steps of cooperation as a part of the Partnership for Peace programme and the culmination of the process will take place this autumn, when we will file a request for joining NATO, Croatian Defence Minister Jozo Rados said in Zagreb Friday evening, upon his return from Brussels where he participated in the conference of NATO's Euro-Atlantic partnership council. It was a routine biannual meeting of Euro-Atlantic partnership council defence ministers, which Croatia attended for the first time as a newly-admitted members of the Partnership for Peace programme. "The signing of an agreement on global cooperation of the Partnership for Peace will follow, and the end of the process will take place this autumn when Croatia is to submit a request for joining NATO as a full member", Rados said. He stressed he told his colleagues in NATO Croatia was ready to fulfil all conditions set by NATO and the Partnership for Peace programme, including civil control over military as well as cooperation in education and training. When asked when is Croatia to establish its permanent representation with NATO, Rados said we should take one step at the time. "This is related to a series of aspects, financial and personnel, however it would be favourable if Croatia had a mission with NATO in Brussels this autumn", the Croatian Defence Minister concluded. (hina) it