munity. Countries in the Southeast European Region have recognized the importance of the regional cooperation and, with the support of the Euro Atlantic community, have established a series of initiatives for cooperation. As a result of the years long successful cooperation, the states of the Region have gradually taken over the ownership over regional initiatives, as for example the US-Adriatic Charter (A-5), Southeast Europe Defense Ministerial – SEDM, RACVIAC – The Center for Security Cooperation and have taken over the implementation of the Agreement on Sub regional Arms Control (Article IV, Annex 1-B of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina – Dayton Accord). The results of such efforts have been positive and are reflected in a wide range of mutual cooperation between the countries in the Region focused on multilateral solutions to security problems, i.e. in the readiness to settle interstate and interior disputes through an open dialogue. The aspiration to connect with the EuroAtlantic community, to a greater or lesser degree has been present in all countries of the Region, and every step towards Euro-Atlantic integration has further reduced the likelihood of new crises or renewed conflicts. However, in spite of the aforementioned positive characteristics of the security environment, there have still been potential security threats resulting from open regional issues caused by the legacy of the 1990s. In the spectrum of potential regional threats we cannot exclude the probability of armed conflicts, so there is still a need for international military and police presence in some countries of the Region. While the Republic of Croatia could be indirectly exposed to implications of potential regional conflicts, there is no danger from direct armed aggression on its territory in the context of the existing strategic circumstances. Starting from the considerably strengthened international position of the Republic of Croatia, unquestionably determined by its affiliation with NATO and the EU, the Armed Forces will participate more actively in multilateral and bilateral regional cooperation projects by strengthening regional stability and good neighborly relationships and by helping the countries in the Region to join the Euro-Atlantic integration, not neglecting multilateral and bilateral cooperation with all Allies and Partners in the Euro-Atlantic community and beyond. In accordance with the strategic orientation of the Republic of Croatia, the Armed Forces have given a significant contribution to international peace and security for more than a decade by participating in NATO, EU and UN missions and operations which required a gradual development of the entire spectrum of new capabilities. These T H E C R O AT I A N A R M E D F O R C E S L O N G − T E R M D E V E L O P M E N T P L A N 2 0 1 5 − 2 0 2 4