MOD State Secretary Pjer Simunovic received on Tuesday, January 12, in the official visit the Deputy Commander of the Allied Command Transformation -ACT (Norfolk / Virginia USA) Admiral Luciano Zappata. During the official talks MOD State Secretary Simunovic thanked the Admiral Zappata for all contributions that the ACT given in the integration of Croatia into NATO, stressing that we were now, as a full member of NATO, open to all aspects of cooperation with the ACT.

He also informed Admiral Zappata with all the activities carried out under full integration into the NATO Alliance as well as about preparing and sending officers to NATO positions, participation in NATO Committees and the contribution that Croatia provided in NATO led peacekeeping operations.

When speaking of NATO operations, it was concluded that the ISAF operation in Afghanistan was the most important and still remained the most complex operation, where besides establishing self-sustaining instruments of government in Afghanistan and the military aspect, it was also important further development of civilian aid to the country in education, health, economy and etc.

"The interest of the Republic of Croatia is also assistance to countries in the region in joining Euro-Atlantic integration and in this particular area we emphasize close cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Macedonia, with the goal of achieving stability in the region," said Simunovic. When speaking on the role and importance of NATO since its establishment until nowadays, Admiral Zappata agreed that the stability of the region was also one of the main priorities of nowadays NATO activities.

Admiral Zappata also visited "Petar Zrinski" Croatian Military Academy where he had a lecture for the students of the "Ban Josip Jelacic" War College, "Blago Zadro" Command and Staff School, and he also visited the Croatian Army Peace Support Operations Centre.