ZAGREB, 5 Sept (Hina) – Croatia and Slovenia on Friday signed a declaration on military cooperation, which Croatian Defence Minister Ivan Anušić described as “a new chapter” in the already strong defence ties between the two countries.

Anušić  and his Slovenian counterpart Borut Sajovic signed the declaration in Zagreb. It covers “everything that can be done between the two states” to ensure their armed forces and defence industries “work better and more effectively”, Anušić  said.

Asked how the agreement compared to a similar declaration Croatia signed with Albania and Kosovo in March, he said there was “not much difference” between them. He revealed that talks were also under way with Bulgaria, which could join the initiative.

He said that cooperation between the Croatian and Slovenian armies was already excellent but that today’s signing marked “a new chapter in relations.” The two sides will now expand cooperation and are working on “concrete proposals” to be discussed at an arms fair in Ljubljana in October, he added.

At a press conference, Sajovic said “the world has changed and this requires further strengthening of cooperation in defence and in all other areas.” He underlined that Zagreb and Ljubljana have “great responsibility” in the Western Balkans, particularly in maintaining peace in Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The signing came a day after a virtual meeting of the so-called Coalition of the Willing, following which French President Emmanuel Macron announced that 26 countries were ready to deploy troops to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.

Anušić  reiterated that Croatia would not send its soldiers there.

“We are neither ready nor willing, nor do we plan to send Croatian troops to Ukraine,” he said, adding that Croatia would continue to support the war-torn country in other ways.

Sajovic said Slovenia would only send troops as part of a potential United Nations mission, which would require approval from the Security Council, where Russia and China hold veto powers.