Minister Krstičević visits Ploče and Sinj
The Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Damir Krstičević and the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces General Mirko Šundov on 17 visited the military facilities in Ploče.
After paying respects to the fallen members of the Croatian Navy in the Barracks “Neretva“, the Minister visited the barracks “Neretva”, “Sidrište”, the depot compound “Tatinje”, and attended the presentation in the Naval Detachment South by the Commander of the Croatian Navy, Rear admiral Predrag Stipanović on the condition of military property in the area.
Since 2005 the Croatian Ministry of Defence has transferred ten military installations (the surface of ca 450,000m2) to the Central State Administrative Office for State Property Management , but decided to retain and invest in three facilities, improving the situation in a large and strategically important area from Split to the Cape Oštro at the tip of the Prevlaka Peninsula.
Opening his address with the importance of restoring dignity to Croatian military personnel and the permanent need to guard the memory of the Croatian defenders , the Minister stated that the Ministry of Defence was oriented on working in the common interest shared with the local communities and the commitments assumed by the Croatian Government to create conditions for a prosperous country.
“Security and the development of a locality are complementary matters and need to be combined. The town of Ploče is a strategic point and we need to maintain our operational forces here. I expect a unit will be stationed next year, it will also open many workposts and support the economic development of the area. The investment and equipment of the designated military property area is a priority“, said the Minister.
The Chief of the General Staff commended the Croatian Navy’s efforts to maintain the military property and underlined the importance of the Barracks “Neretva“ in the building of new capabilities of the Navy and of reserve units of the Croatian Armed Forces, which is also useful to firefighter forces and the police.
During the visit to Ploče Minister Krstičević met with the Prefect of the Dubrovnik –Neretva County Nikola Dobroslavić and the Mayor of Ploče Krešimir Vejić. The Minister underlined the partnership between the Ministry of Defence and the regional and local self-government, and the shared interest in development and security.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister and the Chief of the General Staff later visited Sinj and the Barracks “Kula“ in Sinj, which is undergoing improvement works.
The Minister expressed satisfaction over the progress of the works in the Barracks which is to provide accomodation for the unit of the Croatian Armed Forces and to improve the living quality for the local military personnel.
The improvement of the barracks in Sinj is a part of a comprehensive plan undertaken to improve the working and living conditions of the members of the Croaitan Armed Forces, including the return to the locations where they were stationed previously.
“We plan to bring the military units back to Sinj and Vukovar in the course of 2017. The Armed Forces and the Ministry will present rational solutions and optimal funding in order to fulfill the objectives“.
“The works commenced in Sinj are carried out according to the project timeline and and the unit of the Armed Forces will be installed here as planned“, said General Mirko Šundov.