Croatia's NATO Membership Anniversary Annual Commemoration Event Address by Hon. Paolo Alli, President, NATO Parliamentary Assembly Croatian Parliament Josip Šokčević Hall 4 April 2017 Mr Speaker, Mr Deputy Prime Minister, Madam Special Representative, dear Miroslav, Members of Parliament, General, Ladies and Gentlemen; Thank you for the opportunity to address all of you today on this occasion marking the eighth anniversary of Croatia s accession to NATO it is a great honour. The NATO Parliamentary Assembly has been and continues to be an outspoken proponent of NATO s Open Door policy, as it is our firm conviction that accession into the trans-atlantic security alliance provides the necessary stability for nations to work toward the prosperity to which they aspire. 1
Croatia s engagement in NATO is no exception Croatia is a solid security exporter, not only to the region via troop contributions to efforts like the KFOR mission in Kosovo, but also to other international security initiatives far beyond the Western Balkans, such as NATO s Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan. It is also contributing actively to NATO s adaptation and the development of new important capabilities through such initiatives as the regional Special Operations Air Force you have set up with Slovenia, Hungary, and Bulgaria, with the sponsorship of NATO s Special Operations Headquarters and the United States. Such initiatives show the will and the way to move forward in the increasingly complex security environment facing NATO Allies today. After years of trying to engage Russia as a partner, Moscow is reemerging as a strategic competitor to the Alliance. This has led the Alliance to adapt its defence and deterrence posture to reassure and defend Allies from the Baltics down to the Black Sea. 2
At the same time, the continued instability from the south is driving efforts to project stability in the Alliance s neighbourhood. Not too far from here, the Alliance is working to stem the flow of refugees and migrants through the Aegean Sea and to help break up the criminal networks profiting from their misery. NATO is also contributing to the fight against Daesh in Iraq and Syria by providing air surveillance, and building the capacity of Iraqi forces. NATO provides security assistance in many other areas as well, from various air policing missions, to missile defence, to broad-based outreach to partners in Africa, Central Asia and the Caucasus, and Asia. Today s challenges require a multifaceted and multilateral approach, and at a time when bilateralism is gaining ground, we have a special responsibility to defend the multilateral institutions that have guaranteed our security for over 70 years. And I intend to ensure that the NATO Parliamentary Assembly plays its full part. 3
I will work to expand our partnership with international institutions, from the Parliamentary Assemblies of the OSCE and Council of Europe, to the United Nations to the Arab League, African Union, and the Gulf Cooperation Council. Closer relations with the European Parliament is a particular focus as NATO bolsters its own cooperation with the EU on hybrid challenges such as terrorism and cyber security. By working more closely with the EU, we can also build greater synergies between Allies defence forces, institutions, and our defence industrial base. Finding new solutions to these challenges will go a long way to ease our American friends legitimate concerns about burdensharing. As importantly, they will allow us to better use our resources in support of a more effective European defence. 4
The NATO Parliamentary Assembly is a critical force for addressing the challenges of burdensharing due to our unique ability to connect with every parliament in the Alliance. We have consistently advocated for NATO Allies to contribute more broadly to the Alliance and to meet their pledged amount of 2% GDP of which at least 20% being allocated to capability investments. As parliamentarians, we have a direct say over defence budgets and a responsibility to provide the necessary resources for our defence. To do this, it is essential that we build broad-based political consensus in our parliaments, and also among our citizens. Knowledge about, and support for, NATO is uneven across the Alliance. And we should not take it for granted that future generations will understand and support NATO the same way our generations have. We need to continuously work to explain why investment in the NATO Alliance is the only way forward in the complex security environment of the 21 st century. This is why I have proposed the creation of a Working Group on Education and Communication about NATO within the NATO PA. 5
And I would like to congratulate you for organising this annual commemoration, and holding it of all places in your national parliament. This event is a positive model of how we can maintain awareness of NATO membership and its significance for our nations among our political class, and more broadly among our citizens. Working to explain the relevance and importance of NATO to our citizens will also help keep the great story of NATO enlargement alive. This is indeed a success story of the incredible transformative power that the prospect of membership in the world s most successful Alliance can have. And this success story continues today. The NATO PA has actively encouraged the ratification of Montenegro s accession in the 28 member states. We are almost there. If all goes well, we look forward to formally welcoming Montenegro as the 29 th member of the Alliance at the end of May. Montenegro s accession will send an important signal for this region and particularly for the two other NATO candidate countries from the Western Balkans: Bosnia and Herzegovina and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. 6
Both face serious political challenges which have slowed down their progress towards NATO membership. We must keep our door open to them and assist them in any way we can in addressing remaining roadblocks. And I see an important role for Croatia in particular. Your experience sets a positive model and I know that your government and parliament are very active in their support to other candidates. Our support also extends to NATO aspirants beyond this region of course. In fact, our Standing Committee just approved a text in support of Georgia, who will host our Assembly s spring session next month. As Croatia knows well, NATO enlargement is about defence and about military interoperability, but it is also about values. Indeed, in its very essence, NATO is both a collective defence alliance and a community of values. It brings together countries which are united in their commitment to parliamentary democracy, individual freedoms, human rights and the rule of law. 7
Yet, our democratic values, norms, and principles are today being challenged. From within and from outside. Our citizens are increasingly tempted by the divisive rhetoric, empty promises and irresponsible solutions promoted by populists of all sorts. The terrorist threat is testing our ability to defend our citizens while remaining true to our values. Mass migration is straining our solidarity and cohesion and raising difficult questions about our national identity. And Russian disinformation and other fake news can all-too-easily undermine the credibility of governments and mainstream media with a highly disruptive impact on the fabric of our societies. As the elected representatives of the people of the Alliance, parliamentarians have a special responsibility to defend and promote our shared values. This is where I want to conclude: we cannot afford to be complacent about our democracy and about our security. We need to constantly work to protect and renew our commitment to each other and to the values and principles that bind us together. This is why events such as this one are so important. So I would like to congratulate you all again on this event and on this anniversary, and thank you for inviting me to join in. 8