May 12, 2015.
VISIT TO AFGHANISTAN
Croatian president arrived at Camp Marmal in Afghanistan.



Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic arrived at Camp Marmal outside Mazar-i-Sharif on Monday to visit the bulk of the Croatian contingent with the NATO-led Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan.

The Croatian delegation arrived aboard a US Hercules aircraft from Kabul where they had met with about 30 Croatian troops at the headquarters of the Resolute Support mission.

At that meeting, the commander of the Croatian contingent, Brigadier Stanko Paradzikovic, introduced the President to the contingent's commanding officers who briefly outlined their duties.

The Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, General Drago Lovric, said that the Croatian soldiers were conducting the two most important forms of training for Afghan security forces: the training of military police special forces and the training of transport helicopter pilots.

Training adviser Tatjana Sulaja told the Croatian press that she was surprised how well she was received by the Afghan security personnel she was mentoring. Helicopter instructor Petar Bertoluci said the same, emphasising the great professionalism of Afghan pilots.

Grabar-Kitarovic relayed the praises from the Afghan officials she had met to the Croatian soldiers, citing their treatment of the local community. In her address, she stressed the need for the Croatian contingent to include as many women as possible in the training.

The Croatian president said that the situation in Afghanistan today was much better than in the previous years. She, however, warned that because of the complex situation and Taliban attacks, it was necessary to train Afghan security forces as soon as possible, highlighting the importance of the Croatian troops in the process.

In Kabul, Grabar-Kitarovic also met with the Mission Chief, US General John F. Campbell, members of a firefighting unit from Sarajevo and employees of a firm responsible for the training of explosive and drug detection dogs, which employs seven Croats.

by dalje.com/hic website