ZAGREB, Feb 8 (Hina) - Croatia wants to be a part of the anti-terrorist coalition and supports the American anti-terrorist policy, Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader said after a meeting with US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in
Zagreb on Sunday.
ZAGREB, Feb 8 (Hina) - Croatia wants to be a part of the anti-terrorist
coalition and supports the American anti-terrorist policy, Croatian
Prime Minister Ivo Sanader said after a meeting with US Defence
Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in Zagreb on Sunday.#L#
"Croatia went through a difficult period and was itself the victim of
terrorism, so it has understanding for all such issues," Sanader told
a joint press conference.
At the meeting, the Croatian prime minister was accompanied by Foreign
Minister Miomir Zuzul and Defence Minister Berislav Roncevic.
Sanader recalled that he had fully supported the US policy of
pre-emptive action against possible terrorist attacks already while he
was in opposition, because of Croatia's difficult plight in 1991 "when
the international community failed to intervene to stop Milosevic's
aggressive policy".
"If the international community had intervened militarily in 1991 and
stopped Milosevic, four wars would have been avoided and hundreds of
thousands of lives and hundreds of billions of US dollars would have
been saved," the Croatian prime minister said.
Rumsfeld said he had come to personally thank Croatia for its support
for the global war on terror.
Sanader said they had discussed Croatia's participation in
peace-keeping operations. He recalled that Croatia was currently
involved in seven such operations, including the International
Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.
"We considered the possibility of increasing the number of auxiliary
staff in the (Afghanistan) mission who are participating in
reconstruction," the prime minister said, adding that the idea had
been put forward by Rumsfeld and that it would be given serious
consideration.
Asked if they had also talked about sending Croatian troops to Iraq,
Sanader said that the idea was under consideration.
"We want to be a part of the anti-terrorist coalition and that issue
remains open to consideration," Sanader said, adding that when such a
decision was passed, the Croatian mission would be of a humanitarian
nature and focused on medical aid.
Sanader went on to say that Croatia also had understanding for the
American position on the International Criminal Court.
"It's a fact that the United States is often called for help. That's
why there should be understanding if it wants to protect its troops,"
Sanader said. "The US has said itself that if someone does something
in violation of the war conventions, they should be put on trial, but
in the US," he added.
Another topic discussed was Croatia's ambition to join NATO.
"I informed the American defence secretary of our ambition that
Croatia should become a full member of NATO as soon as possible, as
soon as we are ready," Sanader said.
"I'm sure that Croatia's admission to NATO as a full member would not
only be an answer to what a majority of Croatian citizens want and
over which there is a consensus of all political parties, but it would
also be a clear signal to all neighbouring countries that progress can
be made and that it is possible to become a member of an important
association such as NATO," the Croatian prime minister said. "Croatia
could thus serve as an example to other countries in the region," he
added.
Rumsfeld expressed satisfaction with Croatia's participation in NATO's
Partnership for Peace programme and the Membership Action Plan. "I
look forward to the day when Croatia will become a part of the North
Atlantic Treaty Organisation," he said.
Rumsfeld said he was impressed with the progress Croatia had made in
fulfilling the criteria for NATO membership, particularly in the area
of defence.
When asked about Croatia's position on NATO's withdrawal from
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Sanader said: "We want the European Union to
become more mature so that it can deal with its issues on its own.
That decision has been made and we will see what the time will
bring."
Rumsfeld said that if the conditions were favourable, NATO would
complete its work at the end of this year and the EU would take over a
new role that would be "less military and more police in its
orientation". NATO would keep its headquarters in the country to
assist with military reform and dealing with war crimes, he added.
The withdrawal from Bosnia-Herzegovina means that NATO has succeeded,
Rumsfeld point out.
After talks with the Croatian prime minister, the US defence secretary
ended his visit to Croatia. Earlier on Sunday, he had been received by
Croatian President Stjepan Mesic.
(Hina) vm