Croatian Minister of Defense Roncevic Visited Croatian Military Police in Afghanistan

KABUL, April 7, 2004 - Croatian Minister of Defense Berislav Roncevic and Armed Forces Deputy Chief of Staff General Slavko Baric arrived in the Afghan capital Kabul on April 7 for a visit to Croatian military police forces participating in the NATO-led peacekeeping mission.

During the visit, the Croatian delegation is scheduled to meet International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Commander General Rick Hillard, NATO Senior Civilian Representative Hikmet Cetin and Afghan Minister of Defense Qasem Fahim Khan.

Roncevic and Baric were met at Kabul airport by Croatian Contingent Commander Colonel Marijan Ivancic and Croatian military police, who took them to a multinational brigade camp where the Croatian forces are based. There are more than 2000 soldiers out of 15 nations based in the camp.

"I've come on a friendly visit to Afghanistan and that's how I feel here," Roncevic told the 50-strong Croatian contingent that includes three women. He conveyed greetings from the Croatian government and brought various gifts, including Croatian national soccer team jerseys.

Roncevic informed the soldiers of novelties in the work of the Defense Ministry, particularly the reform of the armed forces.

Croatian military police are based in a multinational brigade camp in Kabul. They perform usual military-police tasks, including patrols and checks, but always in the presence of troops from other countries.

This is the third Croatian military police platoon in Afghanistan since 2003 when the first one arrived.