Ministers Bozinovic and Besimi on defence cooperation between Croatia and Macedonia

After the meeting, Minister Bozinovic in a media statement said that both countries just this year marked the 20^th anniversary of their independence. Congratulating Minister Besimi on this important anniversary, the Minister said that both countries had more or less gone common path, primarily in the context of Euro-Atlantic integrations. Minister Bozinovic recalled on the beginnings of cooperation in achieving common goal, membership in the NATO Alliance, through regional cooperation in the A3 and later A5 initiative and the US-Adriatic Charter, which was beside Croatia, Albania and Macedonia, later joined by other countries in the region. “We have shown how the states from this region that in the 90-ties of last century went through turbulent period can work together and contribute to the world peace”, Bozinovic said, emphasizing as an example the joint involvement in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan. Bozinovic said that earlier in the area of ​​operation was submitted a joint medical team, and today it has been continued by cooperation through the project of the Military Police School in Kabul, where the instructors from the Croatian Armed Forces, together with the Macedonian, Slovenian, Montenegrin, and instructors from Bosnia and Herzegovina train Afghan security forces. “This joint effort and training of Afghan security forces is the shortest and fastest way to get our soldiers back from that mission and enable its successful conclusion”, Bozinovic said. Speaking about the joint involvement in the EU battle groups in the second half of 2012, under the leadership of the Federal Republic of Germany and as both countries have already declared their forces, Bozinovic said that it was one of the key elements in contributing to the Common Security and Defence policy of the EU.

Minister of Defence of the Republic of Macedonia Fatmir Besimi expressed satisfaction with successful cooperation in the field of politics, defence and economy, and also stressed the importance of marking the 20^th anniversary of independence of the two countries, as well as the common pathway that Croatia and Macedonia gone in the process of joining NATO. “Although Macedonia has not achieved full membership in NATO, it did not discourage us to continue our efforts in achieving this goal. And we certainly appreciate and use this opportunity to share experiences with the Republic of Croatia”, Minister Besimi said, thanking the Minister Bozinovic for generous support and efforts that Croatia have given to Macedonia on its way in the joining NATO Alliance. “Membership in NATO is not only peace and security, but also the opportunity for new investments and a better standard of living for our citizens”, Besimi said, emphasizing the contribution that Croatia and Macedonia provide in NATO operations and in ensuring regional, and world peace and security.