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The beginning of the 21st century is marked by the appearance of new security challenges. Today, modern states, aside from traditional threats, are exposed to nontraditional threats that force governments to redefine the ways and means they combat these new enemies. Issues that were considered irrelevant for the security of a certain society have become increasingly important. Among these issues include the growing economic disparities at the global level caused by the redistribution of energy sources. Security of energy supplies has become the key prerequisite for not only further economic development, but for societal development on the whole. This can be seen especially in the Republic of Croatia, whose current energy situation requires a systematic deliberation; the implementation of policies connected with the attainment of energy security, and enhanced protection of its critical infrastructure. All countries, including Croatia, face a future characterised by constant growth of energy consumption and the need for long term planning in the search for energy sources. World trends indicate the necessity of establishing a national strategy for the protection of energy and other critical infrastructure. In order to combat these problems, countries must redefine their basic strategic documents, especially as they relate to security strategies and policies. Adapted from the source document.

The definition of the status of the national minorities in the Republic of Croatia was worked out nationally or in cooperation with the international community. Among other things it resulted in the Constitutional Law on the Rights of National Minorities. This Law regulated the national minorities' rights, formally enlarged them, especially after passing the appropriate legislation and adopting the fundamental international documents related to the protection of national minorities: the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. The general political and social situation in today's Croatia does not facilitate the exercise of minority rights. Adapted from the source document.

The purpose of this article is to study the relations between the Republic of Croatia and NATO. The paper analyses the process of Croatia?s approaching to NATO. By adopting the new strategic concept of NATO at the 1999 Washington summit and conclusions at the 2002 Prague summit the Alliance has confirmed its willingness to enlarge itself through the Partnership for Peace programme. This programme has established itself as a bridge for inclusion of NATO non-member countries into its activities by achieving their interoperability with the Alliance. By all this, the Partnership for Peace has become one of the tools for encouraging defence and security co-operation among European countries, regardless of the fact whether they are NATO members or not. Such a position of NATO in the European security architecture and its enlargement by admitting new member states is of special significance for the Croatian activities taken and directed towards this organisation. Through its activities within the Partnership for Peace Croatia makes preparations to achieve interoperability with NATO. These activities constitute a part of the preparations for its future membership in the Alliance (this also includes the reform of the security and defence system). On the other hand, the co-operation with NATO (together with other mechanisms such as OSCE and the Stability Pact) enables Croatia to exerts its influence towards stabilisation of the situation in this part of South-Eastern Europe, achieving at the same time its key political, economic and security interests in the region.