1. REPUBLIC OF CROATIA "Our lovely Croatia"
Ladies and gentleman, I am LTC Miroslav Komar from General Staff,
Croatian Armed Forces, and it is my honour to tell you a few words
about my country and the Croatian Armed Forces.
"Our lovely Croatia"

2. CONTENTS Croatian Facts and Figures President and Government
Brief History about Croatia
Economy and Tourism
Capital City of Zagreb
Ministry of Defence
MOD Organisational Chart
Croatian Armed Forces
Other Facts of Interest
Useful Links
Its neighboring countries are Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro, and
Bosnia & Herzegovina. Italy is just across the Adriatic Sea. Climate is partially
Mediterranean and partially continental. Three main geographical parts are
Pannonian Plain, the highlands and the coastline. Let’s start with the capital city. 2

3. Official Croatian Flag
FACTS AND FIGURES
Official Croatian Flag
Area: 87,661 sq km
1,185 islands and reefs
Official language: Croatian (Latin script)
Population: 4.5 million
Nationalities: Croat 89.6%, Serb 4.5%, other 5.9% (2001 census)
Neighbouring countries: Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro
Climate: a diversity of mainly Continental, Mediterranean along the Adriatic Coast and immediate hinterland with a Mountainous climate at higher altitudes
South Eastern Europe
Eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea
Central European and Mediterranean country
Its neighboring countries are Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro, and
Bosnia & Herzegovina. Italy is just across the Adriatic Sea. Climate is partially
Mediterranean and partially continental. Three main geographical parts are
Pannonian Plain, the highlands and the coastline. Let’s start with the capital city. 3

4. THE PRESIDENT AND THE GOVERNMENT
Elected in direct elections for a term of five years (no more than two terms)
Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces
Last elections held in January 2010
President of the Republic of Croatia Mr Ivo Josipović
Government:
Unicameral assembly of 153 members ( )
Parliamentary elections held every four years - Last elections held in December 2011
The Government consists of:
Prime Minister, First Deputy Prime Minister and three Deputies
Twenty Ministers
Croatia has parliamentary democratic system. Commander in Chief of the
Croatian Armed Forces is the President.
Prime Minister
Mr Zoran Milanović 4

5. BRIEF HISTORY Croatia’s history dates back to 625 AD
The traditional heritage moved from a Middle Age Dukedom ( ) to a Kingdom ( ), through to unions with Austria & Hungary (until 1918), and in federations with Yugoslavia, to its current sovereign and independent state as a unitary
democratic parliamentary Republic
Croatian Parliament declared Independence
and Sovereignty of Croatia in June 1991
Croatian War of Independence 1991–1995
International recognition of Croatia in 1992
UN member since May 1992
NATO member since April 2009
To become 28th EU member in 2013

6. ECONOMY AND TOURISM
Industries: tourism, chemicals, plastics, metal, iron, aluminium, steel, wood, paper, electronics, machine tools, petroleum/refining, construction materials, textiles, shipbuilding, food and beverages
Agriculture products: wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seed, barley, alfalfa, clover, olives, citrus, grapes, soybeans, potatoes, livestock, dairy products
Exports: transport equip., machinery, textiles, chemicals, food & beverages, fuels
GDP per capita (2011 est.) – $ 18,300
GDP growth (2011 est.) – 0.8%
Inflation rate (2011 est.) – 3.2%
Croatia is a tourist gem all year round not limited to
its prime destination, the Adriatic Coast but also the
hinterland and inland which are as rich in attractions
and activities… from coves and islands, outdoors and
sporting activities, gastronomical delights, vineyards,
thermal springs and spas, cultural and historical sites
and events…
Its neighboring countries are Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro, and
Bosnia & Herzegovina. Italy is just across the Adriatic Sea. Climate is partially
Mediterranean and partially continental. Three main geographical parts are
Pannonian Plain, the highlands and the coastline. Let’s start with the capital city. 6

7. ZAGREB – THE CAPITAL CITY
Facts of interest:
1094 – Diocese of Kaptol founded
1242 – Zagreb, then Gradec, became a free and royal city
1557 – Croatian Parliament first convened at Gradec in representation of Croatia, Slavonia and Dalmatia; first written record of being the capital of Croatia
1669 – considered the founding year of Zagreb University
As the largest city in the country, metro area spanning 3,719 km2, Zagreb is the administrative, financial, industrial, cultural, scientific and transport hub of the country, with almost 800,000 inhabitants
Its neighboring countries are Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro, and
Bosnia & Herzegovina. Italy is just across the Adriatic Sea. Climate is partially
Mediterranean and partially continental. Three main geographical parts are
Pannonian Plain, the highlands and the coastline. Let’s start with the capital city. 7

8. MINISTRY OF DEFENCE Minister of Defence assisted by:
One Deputy Minister
Four Assistant Ministers – each responsible for one of the four main directorates
Minister
Mr Ante Kotromanović
Croatia joined NATO’s PfP–MAP in May 2002
Croatia became a NATO member in April 2009, together with Albania
Almost 500 CAF members are currently serving in several UN, NATO and EU-led peace operations abroad 8

9. MOD ORGANISATIONAL CHART
MINISTER OF DEFENCE
INDEPENDENT SECTOR FOR PUBLIC ACQUISITIONS
INSPECTOR GENERAL ‘s OFFICE
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC RELATIONS AND PUBLISHING DEPARTMENT
CHIEF MINISTRY SECRETARIAT
CROATIAN ARMED FORCES
GENERAL STAFF
MATERIAL RESOURCES DIRECTORATE
HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTORATE
INFORMATION SYSTEMS, FINANCE AND BUDGET DIRECTORATE
DEFENCE POLICY DIRECTORATE
MINISTER’S CABINET
INDEPENDENT MILITARY AIR TRAFFIC DEPARTMENT
INDEPENDENT MILITARY ORDINARIATE SUPPORT DIVISION
MILITARY SECURITY
INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INDEPENDENT INTERNAL REVISION DIVISION
PROTOCOL DIVISION
Our Ministry of Defence has over 1000 employed (it used to employ even
some 2000 military and civilian personnel), but we plan to reduce that
number to some 300 or so. I am not going to talk about that in details. 9

10. CROATIAN ARMED FORCES
CAF is fully professional with volunteer draftees and contract reserves
Current strength: approx.16,000
Organisation comprises: General Staff with six directorates (J1-J6); three services:
Army
Navy
Air Force & Air Defence
and
Support Command
Croatian Military Academy
CAF General Staff
headed by the Chief
Lieutenant General
Drago Lovrić, M.S.

11. OTHER FACTS OF INTEREST
National currency: Kuna (HRK)
100 Lipa = 1 HRK (per US$ = 5.75 Kuna Feb 2012)
National Internet Domain: .hr
International Dialling Code:
Vehicle Country Bumper Sticker: HR
Time Zone: Central European Time, CET (GMT + 1 hour)
TRIVIA: Authentically Croatian:
Neck tie
Ball-point pen
Torpedo
Dalmatian dog
Here are few key facts about the Croatian Armed Forces. 11

12. USEFUL LINKS Government of Croatia – http://www.vlada.hr
Ministry of Defence –
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs –
Ministry of Interior –
Croatian National Tourist Board –
National Protection and Rescue Directorate –
Regent Esplanade Zagreb Hotel –
Zagreb Airport –
Customs Directorate –
Here are few key facts about the Croatian Armed Forces. 12

13. Thank you for your time!