Croatia

NATO enlargement icon"Croatia has made another large step in the realization of the most important goals of our state policy" following the NATO summit in Romania, Croatian Prime Minister Sanader said April 5 in remarks with President Bush. "With the invitation of our country to join NATO, and with the new energy in our negotiations to accede EU, this visit by American President means that the aspirations of many Croatian generations have been fulfilled." President Bush noted that "the invitation to join NATO that Croatia and Albania received this week is a vote of confidence that you will continue to make necessary reforms and become strong contributors to our great Alliance. Henceforth, should any danger threaten your people, America and the NATO Alliance will stand with you, and no one will be able to take your freedom away," he said.

2008: NATO Summit Concludes with Commitments for Future Work (Apr 7, 2008) | Remarks by Bush, Croatian Prime Minister in Zagreb, Croatia (Apr 7, 2008) | NATO Securing a Future of Freedom, Bush Says (Apr 2, 2008)

2007: U.S. Supports Southeast Asian, Balkan Mine Removal Projects (Jan 11, 2007)

President Bush met with Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader at the White House October 17, 2006, and said that during the upcoming NATO summit in Riga, Latvia, he would push for Croatia’s admission to the alliance by 2008. Bush said he believes “it's in the world's interest that Croatia join NATO, as well as the European Union. To that end, when I go to Riga, I will make the case that Croatia should be admitted. It seems like a reasonable date would be 2008.” NATO membership is expected to be a topic of discussion at the Riga summit November 28-29, and alliance leaders may signal what conditions should be met for the candidate countries to be offered membership as early as 2008. Croatia, Albania and Macedonia formally have requested membership. Bush thanked Croatia for supporting “a young democracy” in Afghanistan and said he and Sanader also discussed “investment opportunities in Croatia. We talked about the need to enhance trade and commerce.”

2006: President Bush Supports NATO Membership for Croatia by 2008 (Oct 17, 2006)

2005: U.S. Welcomes Arrest of Accused Croatian War Criminal (Dec 8, 2005) | Croatia Signs Mutual Shipboarding Pact with United States (Jun 1, 2005) | Declaration on Refugee Returns in the Balkans Welcomed (Feb 1, 2005)

2004: Three Aspirants Present Joint Strategy for NATO Membership (Jun 22, 2004)

2003: Bush Welcomes Albania, Croatia, Macedonia into Adriatic Partnership (May 2, 2003)