Minister Kotromanović met Macedonian CHOD

The meeting confirmed the high quality defence cooperation between the two countries at all levels, especially the cooperation within the NATO ISAF operation in Afghanistan and the EU BG II/2012, which will continue in the future.

Minister Kotromanović said that Croatia would continue to support the Republic of Macedonia and other countries in the region on their path to Euro-Atlantic integrations, adding that the entry of Macedonia into NATO is of great importance for the stability and the security of the region and that it was political priority of the Republic of Croatia. In this regard, he stated that Croatia would continue to share its experience gained in the pre-accession negotiations with the EU and NATO, and confirmed support of Croatia for the U.S. initiative aimed at encouraging cooperation of aspirant countries for NATO membership. The aim of this initiative is to encourage cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia and Georgia, that would have been useful for those countries, and that would also send the strong political message by their symbolic linkage that the enlargement process was still on agenda.

Minister Kotromanović expressed support for the efforts put in achieving an agreement between Macedonia and Greece and hoped to resolve the dispute as soon as possible, and confirmed that Croatia intended to continue to work to strengthen the regional stability, security and confidence building. In this context, it was confirmed that the US-Adriatic Charter has proved most effective. Minister Kotromanović also said that the commitment of the Republic of Croatia to support countries in the region in their approach to Euro-Atlantic integrations was also expressed through the Smart Defence project – BRAAD (Balkans Regional Approach to Air Defence), where Croatia was a leading nation.

Macedonian side was also introduced with the upcoming defence reforms that would significantly enhance the CAF contribution to the Allied capabilities and efforts.

General Koteski thanked for the support provided to the Republic of Macedonia on its path to NATO, stressing at the same time, that the Macedonian Armed Forces have met all the criteria, and that the process of admission is just a political issue.

During his official visit to the Republic of Croatia and the Croatian Armed Forces, Macedonian CHOD Gen. Koteski was received by the Chief of General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Drago Lovrić.

Both sides at the meeting confirmed the excellent bilateral military cooperation, especially cooperation in the ISAF and the EU BG II/2012, as well as in education, particularly mentioning education of Macedonian officers and NCOs at the Croatian Military Academy. General Lovrić thanked the Macedonian side for help in the work of the School of Military Police, and on willingness for an officer of the Macedonian Army to participate in the future National Police Coordination Centre Advisory Team – NPCC AT.

General Lovrić also informed Macedonian General Koteski on the Declaration signed with DSACT General Bieniek on the 25 October 2012, on completion of the integration of the Croatian Armed Forces into NATO and stressed that the Croatian Armed Forces were willing to share its experience in the integration process with the Macedonian side.

Within his official visit to the Republic of Croatia, General Koteski also visited ZMIN battalion, Support Command, and the Special Operations Battalion.