At a regular meeting of the NATO Senior Political Committee (Reinforced), gathering deputy chiefs of mission of NATO member-countries, Croatia's national coordinator for NATO Pjer Simunovic and Assistant Defence Minister Igor Pokaz presented the annual national plan of preparation for NATO membership, which officially marks the beginning of a new MAP cycle.
Along with the annual national plan, also adopted was a communication strategy as an integral part of the plan.
Simunovic said that questions about public relations, i.e. public support for Croatia's membership of NATO, were the most frequently asked ones.
Croatia's participation in NATO-led peace missions is one of the best recommendations for NATO membership, it was said at the meeting.
Simunovic said that Croatia expected NATO's summit, to be held in Riga next month, to send a strong and encouraging signal that Croatia would be given an invitation at the 2008 summit to join NATO.
Simunovic and Pokaz said that the national plan was given a good grade.