Croatia has nothing to do with CIA programmes, says defence minister

Zagreb, 10 December 2014 (MIA) - Defence Minister Ante Kotromanovic on Wednesday categorically dismissed media reports that Croatia had anything to do with any CIA programme, refuting allegations about aircraft landings in Croatia and saying that nothing like that happened during his term and that there was no information that it happened before, but that this question should be put to the former police and defence ministers, Hina reports.

After years of pressure and demands, a report has been made public in the US Congress on CIA's torture methods. Great Britain's Independent newspaper published a list of 54 countries in which the torture occurred or which cooperated with CIA in it, including Croatia. The report concerns CIA's measures against terrorists during George W. Bush's term.

Asked by the press about his visit to Iraqi Kurdistan and media reports on the engagement of the Croatian army, Kotromanovic said Croatia had substantial relations with Iraq and that as early as 2005 it sent humanitarian aid, trained dogs and arms there.

The minister said he visited Iraq several months ago, when he intended to visit the capital of Kurdistan, but that it was not possible because of the security situation.

"We went to Iraq for a number of reasons, political, economic and humanitarian. We wanted to see what's going on there because that part of Iraq is economically growing and many countries are opening consulates there and we don't want to be late. We wanted to make room for Croatian companies, notably those in the defence industry," Kotromanovic said.

"Croatia wants to help that people because we were in a similar situation in 1991," he said, adding that Croatia was preparing winter jackets, material for blankets, weapons and equipment to send there.

Asked if President Ivo Josipovic knew about his visit, Kotromanovic said he and "all my bosses" did. "It's an operation coordinated by the foreign and defence ministries. We went there with an objective, we knew where we were going and what we wanted. I think the trip was good and one should focus on that region because the potential in Iraq is huge, regardless of the current situation."

"They like us a lot in Iraq and I think our defence and other companies can do a good job there," he said.

Asked about the possibility of Croatia's military engagement, he said there was none there. "The Germans, who are very careful about where they're going and who they're sending, already have their training forces in that region, because it's relatively safe, unlike Afghanistan and Kabul and south Iraq. We'll see what our bosses say as to whom to help, how and when.