Adriatic Charter nations contribute collectively to training in Afghanistan
The Defence Ministers of Albania, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia¹ and Montenegro joined lead nation Croatia and contributing nation Slovenia today in pledging concrete support to the training of Afghan Military Police. In the margins of the NATO Defence Ministers Meeting, they signed a Memorandum of Understanding governing contributions to the Military Police School in Kabul, as part of NATO’s training mission in Afghanistan.
“An engagement of this kind clearly demonstrates our full support for the new Allied strategy in Afghanistan through enabling critical capabilities and expertise for a successful implementation of the Transition process,” said Croatian Defence Minister Davor Božinović in his opening remarks at the ceremony.
The joint initiative, supported by the US, contributes to the Afghan Military Police School in Kabul with the trainers needed to develop specialised skills. The school, one of the Afghan National Army’s Branch and Specialty Schools, is critical for the further specialisation and professionalisation of the Army in order to develop a self-sustaining force.
With this initiative, Croatia also hopes to reinforce the cooperation of the Adriatic Charter members and the efforts of those Charter member countries who aspire to become NATO members. The Defence Minister of Bosnia Herzegovina also attended today’s signing, reflecting the country’s plan to also contribute trainers to the initiative in February 2012.
Ministers welcomed this initiative as a concrete example of Smart Defence. By pooling resources and sharing national capacities, these nations together can make a significant contribution to NATO’s Training Mission in Afghanistan.
“The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding presents not an isolated act of goodwill, but a tangible sign of the continuous dedication and friendship of our nations… as well as within the ongoing international efforts to achieve durable peace and stability in Afghanistan” said Minister Božinović.
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