NATO appreciates very much Croatia's contribution to the missions in which it participates, notably the mission for the training of Afghan security forces to which Croatia is expected to send another 29 instructors, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in Brussels on Saturday after his first meeting with Croatian President Ivo Josipovic.
I really appreciate the cooperation with Croatia, which has shown commitment to our alliance from the very start. We appreciate Croatia's strong contribution to our mission in Afghanistan. At today's meeting with the president I raised the issue of the training mission in Afghanistan. I ask of all allies, including Croatia, to contribute to that mission, because our goal is to train Afghan soldiers and police for taking over responsibility for the security of their country, said Rasmussen, who met Josipovic on the fringes of the Brussels Forum.
Josipovic said the Croatian parliament would discuss a proposal to send another 29 instructors to Afghanistan.
"That's really appreciated as Croatia's big contribution to peace missions. Everything that is happening in Afghanistan today is preparation for enabling the Afghans to take their destiny into their own hands. That's part of a broader assistance strategy, not only in the military sense, but also socially," said Josipovic.
He also held talks with World Bank director Robert Zoellick.
"That was an interesting brief meeting during which we talked about the state of the Croatian economy and projects with which the World Bank is helping in reforms. We discussed some projects that are related to the judicial reform, notably regarding land books. The World Bank is interested in a good completion of those projects," said Josipovic.
