NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Friday congratulated the people of Croatia on their country's forthcoming accession into the European Union, noting that Croatia has been a valued NATO ally and a role model of successful Euro-Atlantic integration for the whole region.
Croatia is set to become the 28th member of the European Union coming Monday, the 1st of July. Although the country was torn by conflict only two decades ago, Croatia is now a stable democracy, capable of taking on the obligations of EU membership and of adhering to EU standards.
Negotiations on Croatia's accession began in 2005 and officially concluded in June 2012. Later, Croatia signed an EU accession treaty in December 2011, paving the way for the Balkan country's entry into the European bloc. Incidentally, Slovenia is the only former Yugoslav State to have been admitted into EU so far.
In a statement issued by his office on Friday, the NATO chief said Croatia's entry into the European Union on July 1 marks an important step in completing a Europe that is whole, free and at peace.
He also welcomed European Union's decision to open accession talks with Serbia, and to begin negotiations on a Stabilization and Association agreement with Kosovo, saying: "These decisions show how much can be achieved through reform and dialogue.
Serbia had launched the process of joining the EU in December 2009. But the process was delayed over Belgrade's failure to arrest and extradite fugitives wanted for crimes during the Yugoslav wars to the Hague-based International Criminal Court, as well as tensions with its breakaway province of Kosovo, which declared declared independence from Serbia in February 2008 with backing from the west.
Serbia has since captured and extradited the wanted war criminals to the ICC and reached a historic deal in April with Kosovo to mutually mend ties after several rounds of EU-facilitated dialogue. As a result of these developments, European leaders agreed on Friday to begin Serbia's accession talks.
"I look forward to the consistent implementation of the European Union-facilitated agreement between Belgrade and Pristina," Rasmussen said in his statement issued Friday, stressing that the NATO-led Kosovo Peacekeeping Force (KFOR) will continue to play its role by ensuring a safe and secure environment for all people in Kosovo.
"This is a time of great opportunity for the whole region. I encourage all leaders and all communities to continue on the path of Euro-Atlantic integration," he added.
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