Review article
Republic of Croatia and United Nations: New Challenges
Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović
; Ministry of Foreign Affairs and EU Integrations of Republic of Croatia
Abstract
When the Republic of Croatia became a member of the United Nations on 22 May 1992, as the 178th member state, its struggle for full international recognition was successfully completed. Fifteen years later, on 16 October 2007, for the first time in its history the Republic of Croatia was elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. This has been the greatest foreign policy achievement since Croatia gained its independence. The Security Council membership Croatia achieved is a testament to the reputation of the country based on the achievements in the development
of democracy, peace and stability on a national, regional and global level. Our candidacy was based on four areas: prevention of conflict and a peaceful resolution of the existing ones; protection of the most vulnerable segments of society in cases of armed conflicts (women, children, civilians); prevention of terrorism and a reform of the Council. The issues of special interest to Croatia within the Security Council are connected with the south east European area, with a special emphasis on Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo; further on, the global crisis situations where UN is present in the form of peacekeeping forces (especially the ones where Croatian forces are present); the International Criminal Tribunal for the Farmer Yugoslavia and the International Criminal Court; global co-operation in the area of the fight against terrorism, and non-spreading of mass-destruction weapons. Croatia will continue to contribute constructively to the reform process within the Security Council and the United Nations organisation.
Security - Development - Human rights represent, according to the 2005 Final Document, the three key pillars of the UN system based on which necessary reform processes are conducted. We have all witnessed that the level of global security has not increased significantly since 1945. Security threats have changed - the growing discrepancy between the rich and the poor, the threat of nuclear arms spreading, development of terrorism, menacing climate changes. Global challenges demand global answers. The United Nations is a unique forum where Croatia takes up an increasingly significant place, acquiring its membership in the Security Council as an award in recognition of its outstanding work. The real work is now just ahead of us.
Keywords
UN; Security Council; Croatian membership; security; development; human rights; climate change
Hrčak ID:
290683
URI
Publication date:
27.12.2007.
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