ZAGREB, February 28, 2019 – During a parliamentary debate on the ratification of the protocol of North Macedonia’s admission to the North Atlantic Treaty, a majority of Croatian parliamentary clubs supported the entry of the 30th member into NATO, explaining that this would make the Euro-Atlantic space safer and more stable, whereas opposition party Živi Zid lawmakers used the debate to express their criticism against the alliance.
Presenting the motion for the ratification of the protocol, Foreign Ministry State Secretary Andreja Metelko Zgombić said that Croatia had always supported North Macedonia’s accession to NATO, and that the support was intensified after Zagreb joined the alliance.
Branimir Bunjac of the Živi Zid accused NATO of killing hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians, and said that neither Croatia nor Macedonia organised a referendum on their accession to the alliance.
Bunjac also wondered which left party could support NATO, which prompted Josko Klisović of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to respond that those left options that feel responsibility towards the security of their citizens and their countries supported NATO.
Klisović also retorted with a counter-question whether Croatia would have been exposed to the war in the 1990s, had it been a member of NATO.
The admission into NATO closes a gap in that part of Europe, he said adding that the collective security would be bolstered.
Vesna Pusić of the GLAS party congratulated North Macedonia for reaching the point at which it would enter the alliance, and described it as a historic moment.
Independent lawmaker Tomislav Žagar underscored North Macedonia’s efforts including the acceptance of a compromise including the name change.
More news on Croatia and NATO can be found in the Politics section.
