MFAEI wishes to inform the public about the Additional SOFA

Additional SOFA is an international agreement between Croatia and the US determining issues regarding US Forces presence in Croatia within the framework of cooperation connected with the NATO and PfP. The Agreement elaborates NATO SOFA provisions (Status of NATO Forces Agreement), that is, PfP SOFA provisions (Status of PfP Forces Agreement) affecting the Republic of Croatia as a PfP participant, and make provisions for the possibility of making special arrangements between the interested states.

The Agreement pays special attention to the protection of environment, nature, cultural assets and human health, and arranges the status of US military forces components as well as all pertaining civil components within the NATO and PfP.

It should be emphasized that the Additional SOFA does not create prerequisites for permanent deployment of US Forces or establishing bases of any kind.

Additionally, the Additional SOFA does not create prerequisites for exemption from criminal prosecution. In all cases criminal jurisdiction will be implemented, while the question of original jurisdiction in criminal prosecution in particular cases has already been determined by the NATO SOFA and PfP SOFA.

Furthermore, the Additional SOFA has no connection with the so-called Article 98 (US demand for no extradition of US citizens to ICC), and none of its provisions deal with this issue.

The Agreement enables further intensifying of joint activities and partnerly relations between Croatia and the US by strengthening defense and wider cooperation in combating international terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and organized crime.

Finally, it is necessary to emphasize that US have already signed such agreements with a number of other countries, NATO members, and those participating in the PfP, such as Montenegro, Serbia and others.