'We have achieved our goal' in joining NATO: Croatian PM

(BUCHAREST) - Croatia's prime minister welcomed his country's entry into the NATO military alliance Thursday -- and said his next goal was joining the European Union.

Speaking on the Bucharest summit's second day, as Croatia along with Albania was accepted into the fold while Macedonia's bid was put on hold after a Greek veto, Ivo Sanader promised support for neighbouring countries' bids to join.

"We have achieved our goal, our next goal is membership of the EU," he said.

In a reference to Macedonia, but also citing Bosnia-Hercegovina, Montenegro and Serbia, he added: "Croatia will support membership of all south-east European countries."

Macedonia's delegation stormed out of the Bucharest conference 24 hours early after neighbouring Greece vetoed its membership in a spat over the right to the name, which is shared by a northern Greek province.

Sanader warned Macedonia that "one must be prepared to compromise," while NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer earlier stated that Macedonia's application is only on hold, and has not been rejected.

"We... agreed that a formal invitiation to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia will be extended as soon as a mutually acceptable solution to (the) name issue has been reached," Scheffer told reporters.

"We expect the negotiations to be resumed without delay and concluded as soon as possible," he said.

On the alliance's acceptance of Croatia, Sanader added that a referendum on the matter would not be necessary as NATO membership did not require a transfer of sovereignty.

Croatian President Stipe Mesic, also in Bucharest, echoed his PM's support for other membership bids.

"This is an important decision not only for NATO, but also for Croatia and the region of southeastern Europe," Mesic said.

"I am convinced that besides being an encouragement for Croatia to continue reform processes ... it (the decision) will be also an encouragement for other countries in the region which have taken the same path."

Albania and Croatia will become the 27th and 28th members of NATO once the accession and ratification process has been finalised, which alliance officials hope can be accomplished within a year.