Defence Committee of the Croatian Parliament visits Croatian Air Force and Air Defence

Commander of the Air Force and Air Defence, Major General Vlado Bagaric met the members of the Committee in detail with the organization, tasks and status of the Air Force, a complex service and important segment of our defence system.

Chairman Boris Sprem p said that the purpose of visit was finding ways how this parliamentary working body can help in more systematic, substantial and better work of the CAF, particularly of the Croatian Air Force and Air Defence. Member of the Defence Committee Zeljka Antunovic expressed her satisfaction with the way that Air Force operates in harsh conditions, particularly praising the consistent position that only aircraft kept in good repair can go on the tasks. She commended the manner in which the defence system worked at the time of the accident of two aircraft in the vicinity of Slunj.

When speaking to members of the Defence Committee, MOD State Secretary Mate Raboteg thanked members on the visit and noted that only self-critical assessment of the situation can provide answers that can improve the defence sector in the future. The importance and significance of the inclusion of the Croatian economy in the process of renewal of the armed system as a whole was pointed out.
Deputy Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant General Slavko Baric said he believed that the Defence Committee would support the defence budget, noting that from the budget of the Ministry of Defence it has been financed, inter alia, fire-fighting activities, medical flights, search and rescue as well as such activities as recent CAF help during natural disasters.

Concluding the visit, Boris Sprem said that the Committee through the Croatian Parliament, together with the Ministry of Defence and Croatian President should commit for the defence budget not to decrease, expressing the importance of such meetings, as for the Defence Committee, the same for the CAF and MOD.