Croatian and Serbian Defence Ministers meeting

The two Ministers discussed the bilateral defence co-operation, which they evaluated as expanding, and highlighted the bilateral military exercise “Joint Response 14” to take place in the current year for the first time. 

It was agreed to continue the exchange of students of the War School and the Diploma Security and Defence Studies) and to expand the co-operation in military-medical capabilities and training, openi more military education opportunities and exchange of lecturers.

An important conclusion pertained to continued activities at the Defence Ministries and the Armed Forces levels, such as defence policy consultations and co-operation in the military-technical domain and activities focussed on material resources respectively, the co-operation in international operations was outlined too, and initial suggestions presented for co-operation of special forces.
The Ministers also considered the important issue of the delivery of the property-related and technical documentation of the military property located in the territory of the Republic of Croatia formerly under the responsibility of the JNA and the Yugoslav Federal Defence Secretariat. Minister Kotromanović appreciated Serbia’s recent delivery of the aerial photogrammetrical material (38 500 images) dating from 1968, valuable for the completion of  the ongoing real-estate legalisation process in Croatia. The modalities were agreed for the remaining documentation, primarily related to the property of the former JNA’s Air Force and Navy. 

The agenda also included the Euro-Atlantic integration, and Minister Kotromanović emphasised that, considering long-term security of the region, full integration of the Republic of Serbia and of the rest of the countries, respecting the national positions in that regards, was in the interest of the Republic of Croatia too and that it was ready to provide assistance. The two sides agreed to arrange for the transfer of the Croatian experiences related to the EU Common Security and Defence Policy.  The Serbian Minister extended his appreciation to Croatia for the support.
The two sides shared the view that the continued dialogue at the senior levels, bilaterally and multilaterally alike, constituted tangible contribution to the stability of the region and to the overal bilateral relations between the two countries.