Politics

ZAGREB, 28 May 2021 - Croatia's decision to buy 12 used French fighter jets reflects the strengthening of the strategic relations between Croatia and France, French Defence Minister Florence Parly said on Friday after the Croatian government stated that it had opted for Rafale F3R fighter jets. The French minister noted that after in January Greece bought 18 Rafale jets, the fact that another EU member state selected the offer made by a European country "is is strong sign, more than a symbolic gesture." "The French offer turned out to be the best because Croatia is getting the best-assessed and equipped aircraft…

ZAGREB, 28 May 2021 - By purchasing 12 F3-R Rafale jets Croatia will obtain the most advanced combat aircraft in this part of Europe, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Friday. "With today's decision we are not only making the biggest investment in Croatia's Armed Forces since the country gained independence, we are making the biggest investment in a lasting peace and security for Croatian citizens," Plenković said at a government session. By procuring fighter jets, Croatia is gaining a powerful strategic deterrent for the next 30 to 40 years, which significantly strengthens its international position and its airspace protection and multiplies the…

ZAGREB, 28 May 2021 - At the beginning of his cabinet's meeting on Friday, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković sent a congratulatory message to the armed forces and the ground army on the occasion of Army Day and the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Croatian army. "In the last three decades, the Croatian army with its origins among the people, gained huge experience during the Homeland War which it won, and it has developed into an efficient and modern armed force prepared to deal with all the tasks assigned to it," Plenković said. After the the 1991-1995 war, the army…

ZAGREB, 28 May 2021 - The Croatian government will procure 12 used French multipurpose fighter jets Dassault Rafale F3R for €999 million, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Friday. "The government assessed that the French offer was the best," he said at a cabinet meeting, adding that ten single-seat and two twin-seat jets would be procured. Plenković said the Dassault Rafale F3R was a latest generation aircraft and that it was considered among the best in the world. "The French offer turned out to be the best because Croatia is getting the best-assessed and equipped aircraft for the least money," he said, adding…

ZAGREB, 28 May 2021 - Defence Minister Mario Banožić and military Chief-Of-Staff Admiral Robert Hranj on Friday extended greetings on Croatian Army Day, Croatian Ground Army Day and the Croatian National Guard's 30th anniversary, saying Croatia was proud of its history and the Homeland War and focused on the future. Banožić recalled the lining up of the Croatian National Guard 30 years ago in front of then president and supreme commander Franjo Tuđman, saying that in an imposed war, in fighting for freedom and independence, the resolute and brave Croatian youth in a short time grew into a reputable military power capable…

ZAGREB, 27 May 2021 - Croatia and Taiwan continued expanding their economic relations, despite the pandemic, and cooperation can be bolstered in IT, tourism, supplies of medical equipment surveillance equipment, cosmetics, and food products, a meeting of the Taiwan-Croatia Business Council heard on Thursday. The meeting was organized by the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK), the Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association (CIECA), Taiwan, and the Importers and Exporters Association of Taipei (IEAT). Ivan Barbarić at HGK said that the main topic of today's meeting was smart tourism and IT solutions for other sectors. CIECA advisor Fred P. C. Huang underscored that…

ZAGREB, 27 May 2021 - Draft amendments to the Act on Establishing the Hydrocarbon Agency,  which was discussed by lawmakers on Thursday, will expand the agency's powers and adjust its activities to the exploration and exploitation of geothermal resources and underground gas storage. The economy and sustainable development ministry's state secretary Ivo Milatić informed the parliament that the agency's participation in amending zoning plans would be also expanded. Milatić said that only 18% of Croatia's needs for oil were now covered by production from domestic sources, and therefore it was important to find new sources. The logic behind the production of energy…

ZAGREB, 27 May 2021 - The candidate of the Green-Left coalition for the new mayor of Zagreb, Tomislav Tomašević, said on Thursday that he had neither asked for the police protection nor did he have it. Tomašević insists that the campaign in the run-up to the second round of the mayoral election in which he will face off Homeland Movement leader Miroslav Škoro is marked by hate and incendiary speech and fake news as never before. Addressing the press in Zagreb today, Tomašević said that he had come to the venue of this news conference by tram and on foot just as…

ZAGREB, 27 May 2021 - Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman, who held talks with his Portuguese counterpart in Lisbon on Wednesday, said that Portugal supported Croatia's efforts to join the passport-free Schengen Area, as well as to enter the OECD and the MED7, an alliance of Mediterranean EU member states. Portugal has expressed unreserved support for Croatia in that regard, Minister Grlić Radman told Hina after he held the hour-long talks with Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva in Lisbon. Grlić Radman recalled that during his recent visit to Madrid, Spain's officials also expressed support for Croatia's Schengen membership bid and plans to join…

ZAGREB, 27 May 2021 - Croatia's Foreign and European Affairs Minister Gordan Grlić Radman on Thursday attended the informal meeting, known as Gymnnich, in Lisbon, which is, as a rule, organized by the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU. The latest edition of the Gymnich meeting of foreign ministers organized by Portugal, the current chair of the EU, focuses on EU-Africa relations, the unresolved conflicts in the Eastern Neighbourhood and the Indo-Pacific region. Before the start of the meeting, Minister Grlić Radman said that the issues of migrations were important also for Croatia. "We expect African partners to show…