Defence Minister Damir Krsticevic said on Tuesday that the Croatian police were doing a great job guarding the state border and that the army was ready to help, if necessary, because the security of citizens was of paramount importance.

“I think our police are doing a great job guarding the state border. The security of our people is the responsibility of us all. The responsibility for the border currently rests entirely with the Ministry of the Interior. The Croatian army is always ready to help the police,” Krsticevic told the press when asked if the military should be included in protecting the state border against illegal migrants.

He said that troops would be deployed along the border if need be because “other countries also do that,” adding that he could not see why the Croatian military would not join the police in providing security to people.

Krsticevic was asked this following the statement by presidential candidate Miroslav Skoro earlier in the day that the primary task of the Croatian police was to protect the territory and citizens of Croatia, but that it would be good if other services, notably armed forces, were included “before it is too late.”