Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Ranko Ostojic, paid an official visit to Greece on 25 and 26 November 2015. Minister Ostojic, accompanied by Ambassador Ivana Velimir Starcevic, visited members of the Croatian border police on the police patrol boat "Sveti Dujam" on 25 November. The patrol boat is participating in the maritime operation FRONTEX Poseidon 2015 at the Turkish-Greek border in the Aegean Sea, with its main base on the island of Chios. During his stay on Chios, the Minister met with representatives of the Greek authorities, as well as with the representative and coordinator of the FRONTEX on Chios Angela Chiarizia.
The next day, Minister Ostojic in Athens held a meeting with Ioannis Mouzalasom, alternative Minister of Migration Policy of Greece to discuss the migrant or refugee wave faced by both countries. Minister presented to the Greek side migrant registration system applied in Croatia and other details of their accommodation and transport, as well as the overall care of them, especially after the opening of the camp in Slavonski Brod. Minister Mouzalas showed great interest in Croatia"s experience and solutions when it comes to building a system of refugee camps, and they both agreed that the unique approach at EU level is a fundamental prerequisite in order to successfully cope with the wave of refugees.
During the visit of Minister Ostojic to Greece, all Greek and international interlocutors assessed Croatian participation in the operation FRONTEX Poseidon 2015 with the highest marks. It was said that Croatian participation in the operation fully justified all the expectations and that in the international context, Croatia has once more reaffirmed its place and the contribution in mutual effort to control the current migration or refugee wave. On the other hand, Croatian police officers gain immeasurable experience in international operations.
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