Croatia will increase its contribution to peacekeeping missions.
Croatian Defence Minister Josip Buljević, who participated in a meeting of defence ministers about UN peacekeeping operations in London, said on Thursday that the Croatian Armed Forces would soon establish a special military engineering unit for participation in peacekeeping operations of the United Nations, reports tportal.hr on September 8, 2016.
Last year, at a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, an initiative for stronger engagement in peacekeeping operations was launched, said Buljević. This initiative was presented by US President Barack Obama, and Croatia and President Kolinda Grabar Kitarović decided to respond to his call. The military engineering unit will participate in one of the peacekeeping mission, said Buljević, adding that specific mission would be selected later.
The conference in London is dedicated to the improvement of peacekeeping mission operations, to the fight against sexual violence and to strengthening the role of women in peacekeeping operations, and it is held once a year. Buljević said that the conference included those countries which have a greater role in the United Nations and its peacekeeping operations.
Members of the Croatian Armed Forces have participated in UN peace support operations since September 1999. This year, according to the decision of Parliament, they participate in three operations led by the United Nations: UNIFIL in Lebanon, UNMOGIP in India and Pakistan, and MINURSO in Western Sahara.
