Defence Council discusses procurement of MFA
The Defence Council held a session on 14 January 2019, attended by the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Damir Krstičević and the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces General Mirko Šundov, who submitted a report on the procedure of procurement of multi-role fighter aircraft for the equipment of the Croatian Armed Forces.
Based on the submitted reports the Defence Council issued a recommandation to the Government of the Republic of Croatia to declare the decision accepting the offer from the State of Israel null and void.
The Council also recommended to the Government to define a new modality of procurement of multi-role fighter aircraft for the modernisation of the Croatian Armed Forces.
Ahead of the session the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Damir Krstičević gave a statement regarding the procedure of procurement of multi-role fighter aircraft: “In the international tender the Republic of Croatia opted for the offer from the State of Israel. The tender was transparent and the State of Israel had pre-approvals from the United States and as seller had the obligation to obtain final approval for the product offered in the tender”.
The Minister also reminded of the last week’s visit of the delegation of the Israeli Ministry of Defence to the Croatian Ministry. “The representatives of the State of Israel visited the Ministry of Defence to declare that they were not able to fulfill their obligation and obtain the approval and stated it was their own responsibility. They also reiterated that Croatia had managed the process in a highly professional and open manner and evinced high responsibility and stated that the Croatian side stated the right questions and obtained the respective guarantees”, said Minister Krstičević.