Bush was "very clear, and I am very satisfied", Sanader told the US new agency. "Croatia has made enormous efforts to reform its defense sector, and these efforts will continue," Sanader said.
During their White House talks on Tuesday Bush said it was in the world's interest that Croatia joined the European Union and NATO. "To that end, when I go to Riga, I will make the case that Croatia should be admitted. It seems like a reasonable date would be 2008," Bush said yesterday.
Sanader said Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld made the same commitment on NATO membership in a meeting that followed the session he had with Bush at the White House. Sanader told the AP he and Rumsfeld discussed contributions to 11 international peacekeeping missions Croatia is making in areas ranging from Sierra Leone in Africa to the disputed territory of Kashmir on the India-Pakistan border.
He did not answer when asked if Rumsfeld asked him to increase Croatia's contribution to peacekeeping forces in Afghanistan, where it has stationed a 50-member police force, the AP said.
Sanader's visit to the White House was also covered France Presse, dpa and Reuters.