Six US senators meet with Croatian officials.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Damir Krstičević and Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces General Mirko Šundov met with a delegation of the US Senate at the Lora Naval Base in Split. The American delegation is on a two-day working visit to Croatia, reports Večernji List on August 15, 2017.
Minister Krstičević and US senators expressed their mutual satisfaction with excellent bilateral cooperation between the United States and Croatia, particularly in the area of security and defence, which is the most active aspect of relations between the two countries. They underlined that the relationship between Croatia and the United States had been intensifying over the past period, which was demonstrated by the recent successful meeting between Defence Minister Krstičević and US Secretary of Defence James Mattis in Washington.
Members of the United States delegation. Senators Roy Blunt, John Cornyn, Susan Collins, Thad Collins, Tom Cotton and Thom Tills, were accompanied by US Ambassador to Croatia Julieta Valls Noyes and the US military attaché Brigadier Robert Mathers.
Upon informing the US senators about the results of his recent visit to the United States and talks with Secretary Mattis, Minister Krstičević thanked the United States for the assistance it provides through donations of equipment and weapons, training, strategic transportation to international missions and other forms of defence cooperation, emphasizing the extraordinary significance of US support for the development of Croatian security capabilities.
Croatia and the United States share common values and advocate for peace and stability in the whole region, said the both sides. Minister Krstičević stressed that the primary interest of the Republic of Croatia was the stability of Southeast Europe, which is of great importance for the overall European security. Therefore, it is necessary to accelerate the process of accession of the countries from the region to European and Euro-Atlantic integrations.
Senator Roy Blunt, who heads the US delegation, thanked Minister Krstičević and Croatia for their efforts to contribute to international security and peacekeeping missions, as well as to the overall security and defence cooperation. He stressed that the United States will always advocate for Croatia in both NATO and the entire international community.
“Croatia deserves and can always expect US support, both in the area of security and defence, as well as in its overall development,” said Senator Blunt.
Translated from Večernji List.
