"If we want to build a new European future, which will be different from the very bloody past and marked with peace and cooperation, partnership and common values, every European country must have an opportunity to state its position on that future," Sanader explained in a statement to reporters after his speech at the summit.
"That is why we should not be divided into countries of the first, second or third category, but we should all have equal chances," Sanader said.
In his speech Sanader recalled that at the last summit of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg in 1997, Croatia was a newcomer in the oldest European political organisation, and that in the meantime it had achieved the status of a candidate for EU membership.
The Council of Europe deserves great credit for this, because it promotes values and sets standards which make the foundation of European unity.
"The adoption of those values and standards is the first step towards the process of European unity at higher levels, of which the European Union is the highest," Sanader said.
In the new European structure, the Council of Europe should focus on areas where it has demonstrated its greatest values - human rights protection, development of democracy, and the rule of law, Sanader said.
He also stressed the role of the Council of Europe in the protection of minority rights and the promotion of dialogue between different cultures and religions.
The Croatian PM said that efforts in areas covered by the Council of Europe's activities must not stop on Europe's borders, but continue beyond them.
By respecting the principles promoted by the Council of Europe, we care for our own security, because we make it possible to counter the major challenges of the 21st century - terrorism, organised crime, corruption and human trade, Sanader said, calling on the summit to create efficient instruments to counter those challenges.
Sanader informed reporters that Croatia had signed two new conventions at the summit - on the fight against terrorism and against human trade.
On the margins of the summit, Sanader held informal meetings with some participants, including Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Polish Prime Minister Marek Belka and OSCE Secretary-General Jan Kubis.
Apart from future activities of the Council of Europe, Sanader's talks with these officials focused on Croatia's bid to join the EU, with the officials expressing strong support for Croatia's efforts to solve the remaining outstanding issue in cooperation with the UN war crimes tribunal and its starting EU entry talks as soon as possible.