Pusić: Croatian soldiers contribute to NATO with top military training and cultural awareness

The Croatian parliament marked today the 6th anniversary of Croatia's NATO membership. First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Vesna Pusić told the press...

The Croatian parliament marked today the 6^th anniversary of Croatia's NATO membership. First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Vesna Pusić told the press that Croatian soldiers contributed to NATO in the military sense and also with regard to cultural awareness in the countries where they are part of the peace forces, whereby Croatia combines its military and civil presence. Pusić explained that Croatia has had a diplomat in Afghanistan for years and announced that this would be extended in order to establish better communication with the population. Without it, Pusić said, there are no effective peacekeeping missions.

“A young diplomat has just ended her mandate there and has returned with absolutely the best recommendations and highest assessment,” Pusić stressed.

“It is precisely due to the experiences of our soldiers, who also receive training in culture and local customs, that we will continue to combine military presence with civilian projects in any type of peacekeeping missions we are involved in – NATO, UN or EU led,” Pusić said.

Commenting on media speculations that compulsory military service would be reintroduced, Pusić said that it was not relevant for NATO where there are member states that do not have compulsory military service. “That is a form of general education in the country itself,” Pusić assessed. “Croatia has done an excellent job in transforming its army into a professional one. The opportunity for military service exists. Compulsory military service is behind us, it usually served to integrate society, connect people from various parts of the former state. Today, we achieve that through different mechanisms, but high standards of training within the army, not just in international missions but at home too, have an important purpose," she said.

President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović and Prime Minister Zoran Milanović agreed in their addresses that common values shared by NATO member states such as peace and security as well as respect for human rights and democracy, should not be taken for granted. 

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