Bozinovic and Lovric with Norwegian Chief of General Staff Sunde

Minister Bozinovic during the meeting emphasized the engagement of the Croatian Armed Forces in international peacekeeping missions and operations around the world and also acquainted General Sunde with the activities of the Ministry of Defence in particular on equipping and modernization of the Armed Forces in terms of reduced defence budget. Bozinovic said that generally good bilateral cooperation between Croatia and the Kingdom of Norway has been extended to the field of defence cooperation as well. This defence cooperation besides within NATO is especially seen in the example of the Croatian Coast Guard and the possible significant Norwegian involvement in the formation of international scuba diving centre in Split, for which Norwegian side has shown interest.

General Sunde particularly emphasized that the project of the Coast Guard, which was adopted by Croatia on the basis of the Norwegian experience,  was a very logical move considering that Croatia and Norway have the same features regarding a long coastline and population of 4 to 5 million. When speaking about the experience of the Norwegian Coast Guard as part of their Navy, Sunde particularly stressed the need for a certain period of full implementation of the above, but in the end, this solution was the most effective for countries that have need at the sea as Croatia and Norway.

In addition to the above, Bozinovic and Sunde also talked about the possibilities of deepening military and technical cooperation, and cooperation in the exchange of experience and education of officers.  Besides Minister Bozinovic, General Sunde and his colleagues have been also received separately by the CAF Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Drago Lovric.