Defence Minister receives Georgian State Minister for Integration

The Croatian Defence Minister and the Georgian State Minister discussed the topics related to the forthcoming NATO Summit, the experiences with the defence reforms and the deployment of Croatia and Georgia in the international operations and the proposals for the future bilateral defence co-operation.

Minister Kotromanović emphasised that Croatia advocated the “open door policy” on the  NATO enlargement, and that would readily pass on the valuable accession experience to Georgia. He used the opportunity to extend congratulations to Georgia on signing the Stabilisation and Accession Agreement with the EU, along with other former Soviet Union countries (Ukraine and Moldova).

State Minister Petriashvili stated that Georgia was facing a demanding process entailing reforms and harmonisation with the EU legislation, and that it was firmly commited to attaining full NATO membership.

The two ministers agreed that NATO constituted the main security assets in Europe, and that the Summit would re-confirm its value and the role.
Minister Kotromanović praised the Georgian contribution to ISAF as the largest contribution of a single Partnership nation as well as its declared engagement in stabilising Afghanistan and sustaining the Afghan Security Force in the post-2014 period, through the Resolute Support mission.

The two sides also endorsed the proposal to open the bilateral co-operation in the domains of Euro-Atlantic integration, defence reforms and planning and intensify the co-operation related to military training.

The State Minister Petriashvili is also meeting with the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, Josip Leko.