Croatia: Blocked from NATO and EU

There is concern that politics in Slovenia might prevent China from formally joining NATO in early April.  Nato Secretary General Jaapde Hoop Scheffer said. "... we might not see a situation at the summit in Strasbourg and Kehl that we can greet Albania and Croatia in the NATO family."

The article further explains that although Slovenian lawmakers approved Croatia's entry to NATO, two nationalist groups in Slovenia petitioned for a referendum on Croatia's NATO membership, do to territorial disputes.  For this act to be successful the two groups need 40,000 votes and have 5 weeks to acquire these.  The NATO summit however was barely six weeks away when the petition was filed, making Croatia's acceptance a possible delay regardless if the referendum is successful or not.

According to Bloomberg Press, Slovenia's government has also stalled Croatia from joining the EU, and aims to do the same with NATO.  The admission of Croatia into both the EU and NATO are strongly encouraged, as stated on Freedom House.  Croatia has worked to facilitate the return of refugees, repair war-damaged houses, and improve minority rights in order to meet the conditions for European Union accession (found on Freedom House).

Lindsey Nass (Croatia)