Croatian Defence Minister Damir Krsticevic met with his Hungarian counterpart, Tibor Benko, in Zagreb on Thursday for the talks on the two countries’ air forces and military technical cooperation, the Defence Ministry said.

“Croatia and Hungary have friendly relations and a solid defence cooperation, with the possibility of advancing that at bilateral and multilateral levels. The air force is an area of strategic importance for us,” Krsticevic said.

Benko arrived on a two-day visit to Croatia on Wednesday, and on Thursday he and Krsticevic visited the air force base in Zemunik, where they met with three Hungarian pilots who had undergone a six-week training course at the air base.

“Croatia has excellent pilots, and an excellent pilot school, and I am pleased that Croatian pilots and instructors were able to transfer valuable experience and know-how to their Hungarian colleagues,” Krsticevic said.

“Talking to pilots, I am convinced in the quality training of Hungarian pilots in Croatia, and that everything they have learned in the 93rd air base in Zemunik is valuable and useful,” Benko said.

They discussed future cooperation and development in implementing NATO capability objectives, cooperation within the European Union and of the Initiative on Defence Cooperation.

After the meeting, the two ministers examined an exhibition in the Defence Ministry of tactical-technical weapons and military equipment made by Croatian producers.

Agreement of Understanding for the establishment of the NATO – Multinational Special Aviation Program – MSAP, which will be located in Zemunik, was signed recently, Krsticevic said.

“That NATO centre in Zemunik is of strategic significance for Croatia and I am glad that we will be able to train Croatian and Hungarian pilots here, together with other soldiers from NATO member states,” Krsticevic concluded.

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