ZAGREB, CROATIA – At the upcoming NATO Summit, Croatia will definitely become a full member of NATO and Hungary supports the wishes of all countries of the region to join Euro-Atlantic organisations, Hungarian Defence Minister Imre Szekeres said in Zagreb on Friday. 

- In a month, Croatia and Albania will become full members of NATO and that is not only important for them, but for the entire region – said Szekeres who is taking part in an informal meeting of defence ministers of South-eastern European countries in Zagreb.

The NATO Summit will take place in Strasbourg and Kehl on April 3 and 4.

Hungary is prepared to help everyone 

Szekeres said that by entering NATO, Croatia’s position would change because it will become a member of an organisation that guarantees security to all members. “The essence of NATO is collective defence”, he stressed.

The Hungarian minister is convinced that after Croatia and Albania enter NATO, Macedonia will follow after it solves its dispute with Greece, as well as all other countries of the Balkans which Hungary is prepared to help on their path into the organisation.

Hungary was Croatia’s contact-country in preparations for full membership in NATO and it will continue this function in Montenegro.

Croatia’s membership in NATO is good for Croatia and Slovenia 

Croatia’s Defence Minister Branko Vukelic said the meeting did not touch upon Slovenia’s referendum on Croatia joining NATO.

- Croatia’s membership in NATO is good for both Croatia and Slovenia, as well as the region, so all countries are firmly supporting Croatia’s entry into NATO – Vukelic said.

Comparing the border dispute between Croatia and Slovenia with open issues between Hungary and Slovakia, as well as Romania, Szekeres recalled that despite these open issues, his country supported these countries’ accession into NATO five years ago.