Minister of Foreign Affairs visited members of Croatian Armed Forces in ISAF

Minister Jandrokovic visited the multinational international forces camp in Kabul of countries participating in ISAF, where the part of the Croatian contingent, with some 50 members of the Croatian Armed Forces, mostly military policemen has been stationed. In discussion with Croatian soldiers, NCOs and officers, he was interested in their living and working conditions, as well as on their views on the current situation in Afghanistan.

Croatia evolved from the country that needed international assistance to a country that provides assistance to others, from Kosovo to Afghanistan, Minister Jandrokovic said. Speaking of the reputation that the Croatian Armed Forces enjoy in the military circles, he said that exactly the combination of experience from the Homeland war and the experiences from the mission in Afghanistan  was that what distinguish  Croatian armed forces from other countries in the region, but also from many other NATO members.
Noting that on the international scene, a year after joining NATO, Croatia had more self-confidence in its foreign policy, he emphasized the contribution of the Croatian contingent in Afghanistan. The minister also thanked the Croatian Armed Forces for the concrete support that Croatian contingent in Afghanistan continuously provided to Croatian diplomats serving in that country. In this respect, in gratitude and recognition, Minister Jandrokovic delivered to the commander of 15th Croatian military contingent Colonel Berislav Jezidzic the plaque and the certificate of appreciation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration.

Croatia has been participating in the ISAF mission under the approval of the UN Security Council Resolution no. 1386 from February 2003. Croatian Parliament made the Decision in April 2010 on the participation of up to 320 members of the Croatian Armed Forces in ISAF in 2010 and 2011, with the possibility of rotation. Regular rotations have been performed every six months and currently 15th Croatian contingent (HRVCON) has been deployed in Afghanistan. Until now, more than 2,000 Croatian soldiers have been participating in the ISAF mission, along with members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration and Ministry of Interior. The main task of the ISAF mission is to support the Government of Afghanistan to establish security and stabilization of the country, and organization and training of national security structures as well as participation in programs of disarmament and reconstruction projects.