Defence Minister Damir Krsticevic said on Wednesday national security was becoming the main issue of the development of democracies which, he added, were increasingly faced with various security risks because of their openness and transparency.

Croatia is a safe country although, as all others, it is exposed to different threats, he said at the opening of the three-day 13th Croatian Security Days conference in Opatija, the ministry said in a press release.

“The changing security paradigms require us to be faster, better and readier than those who pose a threat, and we have the obligation to think outside the box and encourage critical and creative thinking,” Krsticevic said.

Speaking of the homeland security strategy, he said it clearly defined national interests and strategic goals after 15 years. Quicker response, efficiency, good organisation, anticipation and timely response are some of the qualities of the homeland security system we have established, he added.

The minister announced a crisis management handbook and a homeland security study programme.

Speaking of homeland security development, Krsticevic mentioned higher participation of legal entities from the private and NGO sectors in security risk and crisis management.

He said security risk management would be increasingly hard and complex in the years and decades ahead, making the importance of the establishment of the homeland security system be even more evident.

The Opatija conference drew more than 200 participants, including from Germany, Poland, Slovenia, North Macedonia and China.