The two-day ministerial, comprising the sessions of three regional  initiatives, was concluded by an informal session at which occasion Croatian Deputy Defence Minister extended appreciation to all participants on behalf of the hosting country and stressed the importance of the regional ministerial for the success of the cooperation. The participants were also addressed by the Defence Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Marina Pendeš, speaking on behalf of the country chairing the A-5 Initiative, and by the SEDM Chairman, Hüseyin Müftüoğlu on behalf of Turkey respectively. The speakers appreciated Croatia for hosting the ministerial and underlind the importance of the meeting for the promotion of peace, security and stability of the region. 

The Croatian Deputy Defence Minister, Višnja Tafra  in the closing address welcomed the determination expressed by all participats to strengthen the regional cooperation. 

“The determination demonstrates our maturity and readiness to assume the responsibility for the common future based on mutual respect, trust and solidarity. For my part, I will emphasise that the Ministry of Defence will continue to provide full support to the building of the secure, stable and prosperous regional environment, with a vision of its further development in a united Europe“, said Deputy Minister Tafra.  

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Objava Comprehensive Regional Defence Ministerial closes pojavila se prvi puta na MORH.

In the introductory address the Croatian Defence Minister, Ante Kotromanović emphasised the current moment characterised by new unpredictable threats and challenges to the stability of the existing security architecture in southeast Europe within the European security context.

“We need  to be aware that the collective synergy is the only solution to respond adequately. Hence the importance of effective regional co-operation mechanisms, such as the SEDM – the earliest initiative fostering the regional security and defence co-operation and promoting the Euro-Atlantic values and dialogue. SEDM remains a desirable forum for the countries wishing to co-operate”, said the Minister, who expressed the honour over the opportunity to welcome Georgia as a new official SEDM member.

The Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, Josip Leko, pointed to the emerging major challenges for the European and the global security. NATO Alliance remains the world’s most credible defence alliance, whose values are shared  by the Republic of Croatia as well. Croatia has found a lasting solution for its security and borders, and any person familiar with the history of Croatia is aware of the importance of the NATO membership. That is why Croatia supports further enlargements of the Aliance, as they imply “the continued unity of the European territory in the defence, economic and social aspects“, said the Speaker.
“Any effort towards the integration of the countries of the region into NATO is to be sustained. The co-operation among the countries of the region is a catalyst for the solving of the crucial problems in our neighbourhood, and therefore we welcome any forum of the kind”, said the Speaker.

The SEDM is a regional defence initiative gathering 15 member countries, which was incepted at the defence ministerial held in Tirana, Albania in 1996. The objective of the Initiative is the regional co-operation of the countries of southeast Europe, Italy and the United States of America  in the spirit of the Partnership for Peace, aimed at facilitated accession of the countries of the region to the Euro-Atlantic integration.
 
In the statement given before the second part of the session Minister Kotromanović stressed the defence ministers of Greece and Turkey attending the meetings of the second day of th Comprehensive Regional Ministerial, “which will be an opportunity to discuss the pressing problems, such as the migrants crisis. We expect productive meetings with the ministers of the region in order to explore the options for the ministers of defence to contribute to the solution of the problems faced by Europe”, said the Minister.

Objava SEDM Defence Ministers meeting pojavila se prvi puta na MORH.

The host Defence Minister, Ante Kotromanović  in his address during the working lunch emphasised the events over the past two years which have radically changed the relatively secure and stable environment in southeast Europe and the entire continent. Owing to their specific geostrategic position the southeast European countries are vulnerable to security threats coming from the east and the south, mandating the joint operation and continued integration of the Charter member countries as well as other southeast Europe countries declaring the interest to join the Euro-Atlantic security structure. Regarding the expectations from the Warsaw Summit, Minister stated the Republic of Croatia would continue to support Open Door Policy and the partnerships as critical items on NATO agenda.

The plenary session entailed the discussion on the prospects for the U.S. Adriatic Charter, the current and the future contriibutions to peace support operations and co-operation projects within the Initiative. The Representative of NATO Communications and Information Agency held a presentation on the Balkan Regional Approach to Air Defence (BRAAD) project.

During the second session  Minister Kotromanović underlined that the overarching objective of the Initiative was full membership of all the member countries in NATO, and focused on the progress made by  Montenegro, and stated Croatian expectations for the invitation to NATO by the end of the year.  The Minister called on other aspirant countries of southeast Europe to persevere on their path towards NATO.

Regarding the joint participation in the operations, Minister Kotromanović emphasised the need for continued joint efforts within the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan and for participation in other operations where possible. The joint operation requires interoperability maintenance and upgrade, which is only viable through concrete joint training and practice events. Addressing the capability building subject the Minister recommended the reliance on the existing NATO initiatives, such as Smart Defence, the Connected Forces Initiative and the Lead Nation Concept, as the best platforms for future co-operation within the A-5 Initiative.

The ministers signed the joint statement of the U.S. Adriatic Charter, expressing strong support to the Open Door Policy, the continued participation in the Allies’ operations and missions and continued work on projects and capabilities building tailored to the needs of the Alliance.
The Republic of Croatia, taking over the chairing of the U.S. Adriatic Charter in 2016, has committed to further enhance the co-operation among the A-5 countries. In that regard Croatia’s efforts during the chairmanship of the Initiative will be focused on four main points: the contribution to the international security, the interoperability and readiness, capabilities building and the contribution to the response to the current and future threats.
The Minister of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Marina Pendeš on behalf of the current chairing country of the Initiative expressed the satisfaction over the crucial topics, relevant for the EU and NATO and the countries of the region alike, discussed in the A-5 initiative with the observer countries (Kosovo, Slovenia and Serbia). “ I have taken the opportunity to express our gratitude to the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Croatia and the Minister himself for the support provided within the A-5 format, and particularly to the aspirant countries. We have today discussed the threats and challenges we are faced with and we can expect in future and have made the conclusion on the importance of further enhancing our regional cooperation in order to efficiently address any crisis that may arise“, stated the Defence Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

The Croatian Defence Minister, Ante Kotromanović stated following the meeting that the US. Adriatic Charter was a highly significant initiative established 12 years earlier, with the specific goal to support its members on their way to NATO membership. “We have made notable progress in that regard, as Croatia and Albania became NATO members, which is expected for Montenegro as well, and we are now assisting Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to finalise the overall NATO integration process. It is our interest, and Croatia is  investing further efforts to support the two countries“. The Minister also said that the ministers discussed the co-operation, joint training programmes and operations, as the A-5 members are operating jointly in Afghanistan.

The U.S. – Adriatic Charter was a joint initiative of Albania, Croatia, Macedonia and the United States of America, with the goal to assist the aspirant countries in their efforts towards NATO. The official document “A Charter of Partnership among Macedonia, Albania, Croatia and the United States of America” was signed in Tirana, Albania in May 2003. The Initiative was subsequently  joined by Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina  and Serbia assumed the observer status, and the title was renamed A-5 in 2008, symbolising the present membership. 

The U.S Adriatic Charter constitutes a strategic partnership among its members, recognising the common aspirations towards enhanced bilateral and multilateral relations between the member countries and other countries of southeast Europe, aimed at security and full integration into the European and Euro-Atlantic political, economic, security and defence institutions.

Answering the questions from the journalists on the migrant crisis and Slovenia’s decision to deploy troops to secure its borders, the Croatian Defence Minister Ante Kotromanović said it was the decision of the Slovenian side, but and that the Republic of Croatia had sufficient police forces to keep order and peace in the territory and along the borders. “We have successfully managed the situation from the outset and handled the situations we faced, such as the increased inflow of migrants“. The Minister also said that the reception centre at Opatovac was well-organised and announced another camp to be set up in Slavonski Brod. The Armed Forces have provided logistic support. The Minister praised the efforts of the police forces, the Red Cross and all services and volonteers doing a hard and very responsible job in the field. “The Croatian Prime Minister is to attend the Prime Ministers meeting in Bruxelles on Sunday, alongside the Prime Ministers of Macedonia, Serbia, Austria and Germany, to consider  the possibilities and future activities”, concluded Minister Kotromanović.

Objava A-5 Defence Ministers meeting pojavila se prvi puta na MORH.

The Western Balkans Defence Policy Directors meeting gathered the representatives of Croatia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia, Slovenia and Serbia, who discussed the current developments in the European strategic environment and their impact on the regional security and defence co-operation and raised a question regarding the future orientation and format of the initiative.

The Croatian Assistant Defence Minister Zoran Drča in the introductory address said the current security challenges in east Europe and in the Middle East had significant direct and indirect implications on southeast Europe as well.  “Numerous threats such as radicalism, foreign combatants and the impact of the crises and conflicts in Syria and Iraq (the migrant crisis)called for a common approach and enhanced regional co-operation.  The co-ordinated co-operation is the sole efficient response to new threats which undermine the stability of southeast Europe“, said Drča, who emphasised the joint efforts in the international operations, particularly in Afghanistan, and the common contribution to international security as a respectable proof of the viability of regional co-operation under challenging conditions. For that reason the Croatian Assistant Minister expressed support to the continued co-operation  within the WBDPD format , which gathers the Western Balkans countries, the members of the Euro-Atlantic integrations and the aspirant countries. He also pledged the support of the Republic of Croatia to the enlargement policy and to the EU and NATO aspirant countries.

All participants welcomed  the  WBDPD meeting as a suitable platform to discuss new threats and challenges , to gain insight into the situation in the region and wider and to produce the proposals and ideas for common operation, through missions, operations, the exchange of experiences, training and the like. The meeting itself presented proposals to be discussed in the upcoming meetings.

In conclusion, the participants reconfirmed the regional defence policy directors co-operation as an adequate format for the exchange of experiences with respect to the reform of the defence systems , the building of the capabilities and interoperability underpinning the Euro-Atlantic integration processes.

The representatives of the participating countries expressed shared views on the current security challanges in the region and wider and expressed strong orientation to continued and enhanced regional co-operation as a prerequisite for peace, security and stability.

WBDPD is a forum incepted in 2007, serving as a platform for southeast Europe defence policy directors to exchange the views, experiences and information related to defence reforms, the participation in international missions and operations and the measures focused on enhancing and intensifying the regional co-operation.

Objava The meeting of Western Balkans Defence Policy Directors pojavila se prvi puta na MORH.

The CRM is a third comprehensive defence ministerial, hosted in 2015 by the Republic of Croatia (the first event held in Slovenia in 2013 and in Montenegro 2014).

We are inviting the media representatives wishing to cover the Comprehensive regional defence ministerial to send their applications (containing the name and family name, identification number, the media title and contact data) online, via a e-mail: infor@morh.hr, or through the application form in  MoD web page   http://www.morh.hr/en/press-info.html.

Media opportunities during the Ministerial:

• Wednesday, 21 October, 14.20 – 14.30 sati,photo and video opportunity prior to the plenary session of the A5 initiative.
• Wednesday, 21 October, at 15.45 –  statements following the plenary session of the A5 inicijative.

• Thursday, 22 October, 08.55 – 9.00 photo and video opportunity prior to the SEDM  meeting.

• Thursday,  22 October, 15.55 to 16.00 photo and video oppoortunity prior to the final formal meeting of all participants of the CRM.

• Thursday, 22 October, at 17.00 sati, media statement following the informal joint meeting of the Comprehensive regional defence ministerial

• Official photos from the event will be available for free on the Ministry of Defence website: http://www.morh.hr/en/crm2015.html  Please credit the Ministry of Defence.

The accreditation for media representatives will be availabe to collect in the Valamar Lacroma Dubrovnik Hotel, as of Thursday, 20 October, from  15.00 – 18.00 and on Wednesday, 21 October  from 9.00 to 12.00 sati.

Contact points in the CRM Press Centre are Lieutenant Colonel Dražen Jonjić and Major Branimir Gaćina Bilin  

Objava Comprehensive regional defence ministerial – Dubrovnik pojavila se prvi puta na MORH.

During the CRM participants will meet and exchange views in several formats:

• the U.S. – Adriatic Charter (A5);
• the South-Eastern Europe Defence Ministerial (SEDM);
• the Western Balkans Defence Policy Directors Meeting (WBDPD);
• Informal Concluding Joint Meeting.

The CRM became a visible high level regional event in harmonizing various perspectives of regional defence and security cooperation in the South-Eastern Europe.

Finally, the pearl of Adriatic Sea – Dubrovnik guarantees good atmosphere and pleasant environment for successful staying and work.

Objava Comprehensive Regional Ministerial pojavila se prvi puta na MORH.