Speaking to the press in Zagreb on Saturday, Sanader said he would take the opportunity in Brussels to highlight Croatia's ambition to join NATO as soon as possible.
"Croatia wants to be part of this alliance which is no longer what it was during the Cold War, a military alliance defending Western Europe and the Western world. Today NATO is something else. NATO is the defence of common values, primarily human rights, the rule of law, minority rights, free market economy, democracy and freedom," said Sanader.
Croatia, Macedonia and Albania are currently the only countries participating in the Membership Action Plan, which NATO devised to prepare aspirants for full membership.
Late last year the U.S. Senate unanimously adopted a resolution recommending that Croatia should join NATO as soon as possible.