Minister Krstičević meets with French Minister of Armed Forces
“France is counting on you”, said the French Minister of the Armed Forces
Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Damir Krstičević on 5 March 2020 met with the French Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly.
The two ministers discussed further growth of the bilateral defence co-operation, the developments in current the European Union and NATO and also the global security situation.
First visit of a French Minister to Croatia
Minister Krstičević in his welcome address expressed the honour over meeting a Defence Minister of the French Republic on the first ever visit to Croatia, which was of great importance for the Franco-Croatian relations. “Croatia sees France as an important partner and ally, with whom we want to strengthen co-operation“
The Minister said the two countries planned co-operation activities for all services of the armed forces in 2020, and reminded of the port visits of four French vessels. There is continuity in the co-operation, but there is also room to intensify it.
The Minister praised the confirmed participation of the French aerobatic group Patrouille de France at the first Croatian air show CROIMAS. “We are glad that France will enhance the ceremony marking of the 30th anniversary of the Croatian Statehood Day”, said the Minister.
Within the context of the Croatian Presidency of the Council of the EU Minister Krstičević extended appreciation to the French Minister for the support during the Presidency.
The ministers exchanged views on the current regional and global security situation, with an emphasis on the situation in Syria, and on the European perspective of the countries of southeast Europe, which is one of the priorities of the Croatian Presidency of the Council of the EU.
Croatia hopes that North Macedonia and Albania will soon get an approval to initiate negotiations”, said Minister Krstičević.
Minister Parly commended the determination of Croatia, presently steering the Council of the EU, to initiate ambitious measures for the European defence.
Minister of the Armed Forces of France Florence Parly expressed satisfaction over meeting with the Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and the Deputy Prime Minster and Defence Minister Krstičević “This visit has a symbolic dimension too, given that Croatia is the newest member of the European Union, who joined in 2013 and today is chairing the Council of the EU. We are counting on Croatia’s determination to initiate ambitious measures for the European defence during its Presidency.
“I am primarily referring to the European Defence Fund, which has to secure a budget matching our level of ambition”, said the Minister.
Minister Parly addressed the existing common security challenges from the Balkans to the Middle East. The Minister also summed up the successful bilateral co-operation between France and Croatia and expressed the honour over visiting the Ministry of Defence and over the French vessels visiting the Croatian ports. “We agreed on the necessity to intensify the co-operation, through joint military activities”
We are counting on Croatia’s determination to initiate ambitious measures for the European defence during its Presidency
Minister Parly concluded with expressing her honour over visiting the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Croatia as a first French defence minister to do so.
“France is counting on you”, said the French Minister to Minister Krstičević.
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