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NATO/EU membership will solidify Croatia's historic links with the West

NATO/EU membership will solidify Croatia’s historic links with the West
Shift symbolically helps lift twentieth century burdens

For such a small country Croatia sure has lofty ambitions. Foremost among them is to rid itself of the pains of the twentieth century. In order to do so the nation will have to rely on younger leaders such as its thirty- seven year old Foreign Minister Tonino Picula. According to Picula’s way of thinking the best way for Croatia to rid itself of its twentieth century heritage is to step into an economic and political association with the members of the European Union and align itself in a military and political association with NATO.

Of course achieving membership in these two bodies is easier said than done. Minister Picula would like for Croatia to emulate other small countries that have ascended to the European Union and or NATO, such as Ireland, Denmark, Portugal and Greece. One look at a map of Europe and it is easy to see that these countries lie at the edges of the European continent- with Greece literally cut off from the contiguous segment of European Union soil.

Croatia Foreign Minister Tonino Picula with Secretary of State Colin Powell.

"Croatia will, in my opinion, be a part of the European Union well before the end of this decade," says Picula, adding, "I’m hoping it will become a member of NATO even sooner." Croatian decision- makers, although brimming with confidence when discussing such matters, understand that it is nearly impossible for them to state exactly when their nation will be formally asked to join these two bodies. Minister Picula says that whatever his nation is asked to do in order to speed things up "we will have to do it."

One thing in Croatia’s favor over several of the other nations with whom it is in competition for one of the three open NATO slots, such as Estonia and Lithuania, is that their candidacies carry the added weight of possibly disturbing Russia. Croatian ascension has no such burden.

"The accepted task for every democratic force in Europe is to beef up Europe whole and free," says Picula. The concept of a whole and free Europe "Is a noble and beautiful phrase," says the Minister. "I think it’s in the benefit of Russia not only to commend but to start believing that free and whole Europe is in the best interests of the Russian Federation."

"When I think about the Croatian future I can’t escape the feeling that the only solution for security of a small country is to build up together with the rest of the continent in a new security architecture."

Since the end of the Cold War NATO’s role has been changing. Picula believes that, in order for a country like Croatia to join NATO, it is important that it has more than just tanks and rocket launchers, but also a democratically elected government. "You have to be able to control the military sector and you have to achieve so called interoperability with the NATO standards," says Picula. "I believe that we are moving in a good direction in Croatia. I think it is in everybody’s interest to accept Croatia as a security partner."

Most observers would likely agree that Croatia has stepped up to the plate and delivered in its attempt to reach its goals. Each country seeking NATO membership has its own Membership Action Plan (MAP) which spells out certain conditions that it must meet. Picula believes that Croatia will reach their MAP requirements early next year- adopting, in Croatian Parliament, a couple of important new laws such as on defense.

"Croatia’s position is unique," says Picula. "MAP is, in a way, predicted to be another Vilnius Group. Vilnius Group is a group of countries, official candidate countries for NATO. MAP is precondition. Without MAP we are V-9, now it’s V-10. It’s a huge success for Croatian diplomacy, because we are, in a way, a little exception."

Croatia’s northern neighbor, Slovenia, is assumed as having a relatively seamless transition into NATO and Croatia hopes that it too can follow suit. Slovenia experienced a less traumatic way out of Yugoslavia, being relatively free from war unlike the way it hit Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo.

"We are pleased that Slovenia has a clear chance to step into NATO," says Picula. "It means that Croatia will share the frontier with two NATO countries- Hungary on the north and Slovenia on the west. It’s very good news for a country like Croatia. It means that we have a good chance to be accepted during the next round of enlargement."