Secretary General praises Croatia’s contributions to NATO, participates in meeting of EU Defence Ministers

In his meetings with President Zoran Milanović and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, Mr. Stoltenberg thanked Croatia for its contributions to NATO missions in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo.  The Secretary General underlined that NATO remains fully committed to stability and security in Western Balkans and that Croatia plays a key role, in particular by supporting NATO partnerships in the region and being a champion of NATO’s Open Door policy.  Mr. Stoltenberg also congratulated Croatia for its first presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Mr. Stoltenberg is participating in a meeting of EU Defence Ministers on Wednesday evening. Arriving at Zagreb’s National and University Library, the Secretary General underlined the importance of NATO-EU cooperation in addressing challenges too complex for any one nation or organisation to face alone. He pointed to the crisis in Syria and the refugee and migrant crisis as a common challenge requiring common solutions. He further said he would brief ministers on the prospects for peace in Afghanistan, and called on the Taliban to honour their commitments under the agreement reached on 29 February, including to reduce violence.