Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković met Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Defence Minister Yaşar Güler in Ankara on Thursday, stressing the importance of stronger defence cooperation and stability in south-eastern Europe.
Jandroković and Fidan underlined the "exceptional importance of stability and security in south-eastern Europe".
They discussed the post-election situation in Serbia and the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with Jandroković stressing the importance of effective cooperation among BiH's three constituent peoples, as well as between Croats and Bosniaks within the Federation entity.
Fidan briefed Jandroković on Turkey's mediation efforts between Ukraine and Russia, particularly an initiative to ensure the safe passage of grain through the Black Sea.
At his meeting with Güler, Jandroković said Croatia "values Turkey's concrete contribution to preserving stability in south-eastern Europe", reflected in its participation in the EU-led ALTHEA operation in BiH and in KFOR in Kosovo.
As a concrete example of successful defence cooperation between the two countries, Jandrković cited Croatia's procurement of Bayraktar unmanned aerial systems for the Croatian Army, saying this was "confirmation of Croatia's confidence in the quality and technological capabilities of the Turkish defence industry".
Last year, the Croatian Army presented six new Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial systems operated by members of the 125th Combat and Reconnaissance Squadron of the Air Force.
Jandroković also referred to the procurement of systems made by Turkish company Aselsan for the Croatian Navy, as well as the fact that Turkish shipyards had expressed concrete interest in the Croatian Navy's ongoing procurement process for multi-purpose vessels.
"Both interlocutors agreed that there was significant potential for establishing a broader platform for cooperation encompassing joint investment, the transfer of advanced knowledge and technology, and stronger links between Turkish companies and successful Croatian defence-sector firms". Jandroković cited cooperation between Croatian company ORQA and Turkish company Baykar.
He also met Haluk Görgün, head of the Presidency of Defence Industries, an agency under the Turkish President's Office. The agency is responsible for decisions on the development of new technologies, coordinating the entire Turkish defence industry, and approving exports and technology transfers to foreign partners.