General Lovrić: This is an American recognition of Croatia and its Armed Forces
On the occasion of induction into the International Fellows Hall of Fame of the U.S. National Defense University in Washington (NDU), Chief of General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Drago Lovrić, in a statement to the media, said that this was the recognition of Croatia and its Armed Forces for good relations between Croatian and the U.S. armed forces which have so far proved in many areas, particularly in the implementation of international peacekeeping operations around the world.
“This award is also recognition of the Croatian Armed Forces for the successful transformation to NATO standards, where it is expected that the transformation process would be finished this year”, General Lovrić concluded.
Award ceremony was held at the National Defense University – NDU in Washington on Tuesday, 28 August 2012, and besides General Lovrić, the ceremony was attended by Advisor to the President for Defence Zlatko Gareljić, Deputy Croatian Ambassador to the U.S. Vice Skračić, and the Croatian Military Attaché in the United States, Brigadier General Mate Pađen.
It is the recognition for international students, who after finishing studies at the NDU, took the most responsible duties in their armed forces. General Lovrić attended the National Defense University in 2004, where he graduated from Industrial College of the Armed Forces, and obtained a Master’s degree from national resource strategy.
During his stay in the United States, Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Drago Lovrić met on Tuesday, August 28, the Deputy Chief of Joint Staff of the U.S. Armed Forces Admiral James Winnefeld. During the talks both sides emphasized the high level of bilateral cooperation between the two armed forces. Talks were also on further engagement of NATO forces in the ISAF operation in Afghanistan and the situation in the Southeast Europe.
Lieutenant General Drago Lovrić thanked Admiral Winnefeld for the support which the Croatian Armed Forces were provided by the U.S. Armed Forces with the desire to continue the excellent cooperation in the future.
Meeting was also attended by the Presidential Adviser for the Defense Zlatko Gareljić and Croatian Military Attaché in the U.S. Brigadier General Mate Pađen. Admiral Winnefeld was accompanied by Admiral Jeffrey Harbeson, Deputy Director for Politico-Military Affairs, and Colonel Calvin Carlsen, U.S. Defense Attaché in the Republic of Croatia.
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