Republic of Croatia strongly supports the integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatian defence minister Mario Banozic sad on Thursday after the meeting with his Bosnian counterpart Zukan Helez in Sarajevo, during his official visit to the country.

“We are delighted by the positive steps that enable efficient work of the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of BiH. I primarily refer here to the adoption of pro-European acts, adoption of defence budget, but also the devotion to reform processes. In that context, Republic of Croatia recognises the importance of NATO and European Union, the instruments that can strengthen the capacities of the Armed Forces of BiH,” said Banozic.

Two ministers held a bilateral meeting at premises of the Defence Ministry of BiH, followed by the meeting of the two countries’ delegations.

On this occasion, the representatives of the two countries signed an agreement on education of Bosnian cadets and military personnel in Croatia. Banozic said that this enabled the continuation of Croatia's active contribution to the needs of Defence Ministry of BiH.

“I am happy that the members of the Armed Forces of BiH with their cadets make the largest group of foreign military students who are currently being educated in Croatia. We also encourage the education of the Croats from the BiH defence system, because we see the care for their military education as our obligation,” stressed Bozinovic.

He also announced intensifying of cooperation between ministries of defence of BiH and Croatia in the protection of population from natural disasters.

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Minister Helez expressed content over the visit of Croatian minister, stressing that Banozic is not in BiH “semi-illegally like some other officials.”

“We will resume the cooperation. I am happy that this is our third meeting already, because Croatia, given its borders with BiH, the history, demographic structure, is our key foreign ally and, let me say, a neighbour. I am happy that the Croatian defence minister clearly said that the Republic of Croatia is not supportive of any form of secession when it comes to BiH. I am grateful for that,” said Helez, adding that Croatia is the leader among the EU and NATO member states when it comes to Euro-Atlantic integration processes.

Helez also said on this occasion that Bosnia and Herzegovina is finally on the way through Croatia and NATO to oversee its skies.

“We currently have no insight in that. We do in some civilian part, but not in military and we are on the good way to oversee our skies so that nobody can illegally fly over when it comes to military planes,” he stressed.

He thanked the Croatian minister for the support and announced the continuation of cooperation.

“It is about time for these two countries to finally be friends and partners in every field. The stability of the Western Balkans is very important if these two countries have good relations,” he said, reiterating the importance of Croatia's support on BiH's path to the EU and NATO.