During his official visit to Israel, Croatian Defence Minister Damir Krsticevic met with his Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman, as well as Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, the ministry said in a press release.

The meeting between the two defence ministers in Tel Aviv was the first since the Croatian government decided to buy 12 F-16 Barak multi-purpose fighter jets from Israel in March this year.

The two countries are improving their strategic partnership, Krsticevic said, adding that their long-term political and economic cooperation would pave the way for new investments that would impact the development of Croatia’s defence industry and entire economy.

“We discussed advancing our military cooperation… we need Israel’s experience in the cyber area,” Krsticevic said after the meeting.

The ministers discussed the expansion of defence cooperation with emphasis on cybernetic security, training, and education, as well as possible cooperation between the two countries’ navies, infantry and special forces, the press release said.

Minister Lieberman said he hoped the two countries would continue realising their joint plans.

After the meeting with the Israeli Defence Minister, Krsticevic met with President Rivlin, who is expected to visit Croatia soon, for talks on challenges in global security, especially security in Southeast Europe and the Middle East.

Krsticevic also visited Yad Vashem – The World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem – where he laid a wreath and paid his respects to the victims of the holocaust.

“In this solemn place that testifies to the tragic sacrifice and deep suffering, I wish to express sympathy to the entire Jewish nation. I wish to express condolences to the families of those killed and send them a message of encouragement because a friendly nation like mine will never allow this tragedy to be forgotten. I am proud that I have had the opportunity to personally contribute to strengthening the friendship between the Jewish people and the Croatians, that is, Croatia and Israel, and I am convinced that we are facing a long period of coming closer and building very close, brotherly relations,” Krsticevic wrote in Yad Vashem’s Book of Remembrance.

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