United in the effort to combat terrorism and cooperating with the fifteen member-states of the European Union, the Government of the Republic of Croatia reiterates its strong condemnation of the recent terrorist attacks in the United States. Furthermore, the Government recognizes the terrorist attacks as a direct threat and challenge to the basic principles of the international law. Relying on its political, economic and security capacities, the Government has continued with an active cooperation with the international community in the frame of the global anti-terrorist coalition in the efforts to combat terrorism. The Government stresses the need of bringing to justice all the organizers and perpetrators of the terrorist acts.

The Croatian Government relies on the principles of democracy and protection of human rights and thus believes all actions performed in combating terrorism have to fully respect these procedures and laws. In abandoning the idea of a collective responsibility of a nation, race or religion for the terrorist acts, the Government rejects every identification of a terrorist group with the whole Islamic and Arabic community.

The Government has offered its assistance and support to the United States and is maintaining a frequent contact with the United States Government. Furthermore, the Croatian Government is assisting the United States Government in exchanging information useful in the context of broader information exchange related to the terrorist activities.

The Government has encouraged all of its departments to draft a plan that would include the political, economic, financial, judiciary and security aspects of integration of the Republic of Croatia in the actual anti-terrorist activities.

On the international level, as the member of the UN, OSCE, Council of Europe, Interpol, Partnership for Peace, and awaiting to be accepted in the EU and NATO, the Republic of Croatia is determined to cooperate with the above organizations in their struggle to fight terrorism and its causes. Therefore the Government hails the UN Security Council resolution 1373 (2001) which is seen as a platform of the international community for fighting terrorism on a long range.

The Government has encouraged all of its departments to prepare the ground for the Republic of Croatia to join the relevant international conventions on anti-terrorism, especially those operating within the UN and Council of Europe.

The Republic of Croatia has accepted the invitation to attend the European conference in Brussels on the 20^th of October, thereby associating its activities directed at combating terrorism closer to those of the European Union. This includes the gradual harmonization of the Croatian legislature with the appropriate regulations of the European Union.

In the effort to intensify the cooperation in the departments of justice and internal affairs with the neighboring countries through various regional activities, terrorism is on the agenda as one of the Government's top priorities. This is a significant contribution to peace, stability and regional cooperation.

Due to maintaining security of the civilians, the authorized institutions of the Republic of Croatia are performing preventive security measures in the Republic of Croatia, especially increased control of the borders and key objects and at the airports.