Croatia supports the process of transformation of the Kosovo Security Force into armed forces and Kosovo's desire to contribute to international missions and operations, Croatian Defence Minister Mario Banozic said during an official visit to the country on Friday.

Banozic met with Kosovo Defence Minister Armend Mehaj in Pristina. It was their fourth bilateral meeting and Banožić’s first official visit to Kosovo. The visit is taking place at Mehaj’s invitation extended in April during his first official visit to Croatia, the Croatian Defence Ministry said in a press release.

The ministers highlighted the friendship between the two countries as well as successful defence cooperation, which was reaffirmed by the signing of a new memorandum of understanding between the defence ministries of Croatia and Kosovo.

The memorandum aims to reinforce political, military and economic cooperation between the two countries.

The ministers agreed that the continuation of joint strategic dialogue was of great importance in the process of stabilizing Southeast Europe.

Banozic confirmed that Croatia strongly supported Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic path and would continue to assist it in reform processes.

“We welcome the Republic of Kosovo’s aspirations to join regional initiatives and organizations as soon as possible, including the A5 initiative. That is a good way to strengthen regional dialogue and security cooperation and can be an integral part of a response to security challenges in the region,” the Croatian defence minister said.

Banozic highlighted Croatia’s contribution to NATO’s KFOR mission in Kosovo, saying that Croatia has been contributing to this operation for 12 years now as part of its efforts to ensure lasting peace, security and stability in Kosovo and in Southeast Europe.

“As the nations and states, we are connected by similar challenges in the past, which has further reinforced the friendship among our nations. Besides, we have common strategic interests and visions, a commitment to regional and global issues and to peace and security in the region,” Mehaj said.

He added that this friendship was reaffirmed by the signing of the memorandum on defence cooperation which is aimed at improving cooperation with regard to military training, joint military exercises and participation in international operations and missions, the statement said.

During his two-day official visit, Banozic visited the Croatian community in Janjevo on Thursday. He meet with representatives of the Saint Nicholas Janjevo Association who acquainted him with their work and the status of their community.

Banozic expressed full support for the Association’s work, saying that he supports any effort aimed at improving the living standards of the Croats in Janjevo.

Around 5,000 Croats lived in the Janjevo area in the 1990s and their number has since fallen to below 200, according to the Defence Ministry.

Banozic said that the present Croatian government has increased budget funding for Croats living abroad. “I am confident that this government of Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic will make life here better, especially for younger generations who have stayed, because it is our common desire that this oldest Croatian diaspora should stay in this area and live in dignity.”