Minister Kotromanović met Afghan Minister of Defence

Pointing out that the Republic of Croatia has been for many years engaged in raising capabilities of Afghan Security Forces, Minister Kotromanović stressed that Afghanistan can count in the future on Croatia as a committed ally of Afghanistan.

Besides the talks on cooperation in the security and defence field, Minister Kotromanović stressed that the intent of the Republic of Croatia would be to reinforce and strengthen the overall bilateral relations between the two countries.

Both ministers agreed that Afghan Security Forces were becoming more capable and increasingly taking the lead in conducting operations, as well as on the fact that the common goal was the stable Afghanistan that will no longer be a safe haven for terrorism, but a country in which its citizens prosper.

Stressing that Croatia would continue to stay strong partner, both now and after 2014, when the transition process is to be completed, Defence Minister Ante Kotromanović said to Afghan counterpart that Croatia would remain committed to NATO and the international community efforts in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan within the ISAF mission.

During the visit to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Defence Minister Ante Kotromanović today also met the Commander of the Special Operations Command in Afghanistan, U.S. Maj. Gen. Raymond A. Thomas, and the Commander of Regional Command Capital, Turkish Brigadier General Ali Riza Kugu.