ZAGREB, March 23 (Hina) - Deputy Prime Minister Goran Granic on Friday received the NATO secretary-general's assistant for defence planning and operations, Edgar Buckley, who is heading a NATO team of experts visiting Croatia between
March 20 and 23.
ZAGREB, March 23 (Hina) - Deputy Prime Minister Goran Granic on
Friday received the NATO secretary-general's assistant for defence
planning and operations, Edgar Buckley, who is heading a NATO team
of experts visiting Croatia between March 20 and 23.#L#
Access to NATO represents much more than joining a military
organisation, as it reflects Croatia's need to become part of a
community of responsible states which cooperate on security
issues, Granic said during talks, according to a statement by the
government's Public and Media Relations Office.
It also represents a democratic and civil society standard Croatia
aspires to, Granic said.
He explained new defence legislation would precisely define the
role and responsibility of all key officials, to help Croatia build
a professional, well-trained armed force with a transparent
command system, compatible with European Union and NATO members.
Speaking about the situation in the region, Granic said Croatia's
future lay in a stable, safe and democratic environment. As for
neighbouring Bosnia, he said Croatia's interest was an integral
country of equal peoples and citizens.
Buckley said Croatia's efforts towards fast changes, particularly
in the economy, legislation and defence system, confirmed that
Croatia had opted for a policy of rapprochement with Euro-Atlantic
structures.
(hina) ha