Bozinovic and Locklear on defence cooperation between Croatia and the U.S.
On the eve of the opening of the 15th Conference of Chiefs of General Staff of the armed forces of the US-Adriatic Charter today, 22 November 2011, in Zagreb, a bilateral meeting of the Croatian Defence Minister Davor Bozinovic and Commander of Allied Joint Force Command Naples and Commander of Naval Forces of the United States for Europe and Africa, Admiral Samuel J. Locklear was held in the hotel “Sheraton”.
In a statement to the media after the meeting, Minister Bozinovic said that Croatia and the U.S. share values and work together to maintain peace and security worldwide. The two countries cooperate in many defence areas and use every opportunity to exchange experiences and lessons learned. Thanking for the U.S. financial assistance, the Minister pointed out that for Croatia was particularly important the confidence of the U.S. in Croatia as an ally, and the confidence in Croatian industry that the U.S. showed by overhauling of its 6th Fleet flagship in the Croatian “Viktor Lenac Shipyard”. “Our shipyards have shown a high level of skills, training, flexibility, and performed work that opened the possibility of longer term cooperation between the U.S. Navy and Croatian shipyards”, Minister concluded.
Admiral Locklear said that Croatia is and will be a true strategic partner of the United States. In this context the Admiral particularly pointed out Croatian participation in international missions. The partnership between the two countries is reflected in NATO, but also through other organizations such as A-5, and in a bilateral form, primarily through joint military exercises. In 2011, the U.S. has donated nearly $ 10 million to equip the Croatian Armed Forces in international missions, $ 2.4 million for assistance in mine clearance and disposal of obsolete weapons, and about a quarter million dollars to improve training infrastructure facilities in the Croatian Armed Forces. The most recent example of cooperation was the overhaul of the USS Mount Whitney ship. Admiral Locklear has expressed great satisfaction with the work performed, and the reception that the U.S. Navy staff had in Croatia. In conclusion, Locklear thanked the hosts for the organization of the Conference, and on the leadership that Croatia shows within the A-5 initiative.
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