Croatia urged to go final mile toward NATO membership
BRUSSELS, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer Wednesday called on Croatia to make the final efforts needed for it to be invited to join the alliance at a summit in April.
Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader visited NATO headquarters and addressed the decision-making North Atlantic Council.
De Hoop Scheffer said the council gave a strong signal of appreciation of what Croatia has achieved and a strong signal of encouragement to complete the necessary reforms.
"The message was: go the final mile," de Hoop Scheffer told reporters at a joint press conference with Sanader.
"You can sprint the final 195 meters. You can also walk them as long as you are on time before the formal registration closes," he said, comparing Croatia's race to NATO membership to a marathon.
Croatia, Macedonia and Albania are in the final stage toward NATO membership. All three nations are eager to receive an invitation to join the alliance at the next NATO summit in Bucharest, Romania. But NATO has so far refused to give definitive answers to any of the countries.
"No tickets are punched; no guarantee can be given," de Hoop Scheffer said.
But he said NATO's door is open to all countries that aspire to NATO membership. "Needless to say, NATO's door is not closed to Croatia," he said.
Sanader promised to accomplish the necessary reforms and to boost public support for NATO membership within his country. He also pledged to play a constructive role in the region.