ZAGREB, April 6, 2020 - Defence Minister Damir Krstičević on Monday stressed the importance of information sharing in safeguarding public health in Croatia and the European Union. "We will share national experiences in providing support to civilian institutions, with emphasis on further strengthening cooperation and solidarity among the EU member states," Krstičević told the press in Zagreb ahead of a video conference of EU defence ministers, the first such conference on efforts aimed at containing the coronavirus pandemic.
The emergency meeting will be chaired by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell.
Krstičević said that the meeting was important because of sharing experience and information. "As we can see, we need to adapt and do our best to safeguard the health of our citizens in Croatia and in the EU," he added.
He underscored Croatia's prompt response to the coronavirus outbreak, including measures aimed at "healthcare, safety, education and the economy."
Krstičević said that the Croatian military had played an important role in assisting the healthcare system, citing the erection of tents for patients outside the Dubrava hospital in Zagreb.
He said that he would inform his EU counterparts of the strong earthquake that had struck Zagreb on March 22, which made the fight against the coronavirus more difficult.
"We had two crisis situations at the same time, and the Croatian army, as part of the homeland security system, responded to the earthquake in a timely fashion as well," Krstičević said.
More coronavirus news can be found in the Lifestyle section.
