Plenković and Milanović Reunite for Defence Council Meeting

The news in Croatian

1. obrana  (f.)
   Radnje ili strategije za čuvanje ili zaštitu od napada. ↩︎
2. strategija  (f.)
   Planiranje i vođenje velikih operacija ili planova kako bi se postigli određeni ciljevi, često u vojnim ili poslovnim kontekstima. ↩︎
3. razvoj  (m.)
   Proces promjene i napredovanja prema boljoj, naprednijoj ili složenijoj formi. ↩︎
4. uvođenje  (n.)
   Postupak ili čin uvoza ili prezentiranja nečega novog. ↩︎
5. promjena  (f.)
   Proces čineći nešto drugačijim, modificiranje postojećeg stanja. ↩︎
6. obljetnica  (f.)
   Dan koji označava godišnjicu nekog važnog događaja. ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: What are Andrej Plenković and Zoran Milanović going to discuss at the Defence Council meeting?

Question 2: Will they talk about changes to the Defence Law during the meeting?

Vocabulary

Croatian	English
obrana  (f.)	defence
strategija  (f.)	strategy
razvoj  (m.)	development
uvođenje  (n.)	introduction
promjena  (f.)	change
obljetnica  (f.)	anniversary

Read the full story

In a significant political event, Croatian leaders Andrej Plenković and Zoran Milanović will meet face-to-face for the first time since November 2021. The convening of the Defence Council, scheduled for this Friday, marks a crucial moment for Croatia’s strategic defence discussions.

The meeting will focus on critical aspects such as the draft of the Defence Strategy and the Long-term Development Plan of the Armed Forces. These documents are in urgent need of attention as they have surpassed their expected validity. Additionally, the topic of possibly reintroducing a mandatory military service is expected to be part of the discussions.

While much will be on the agenda, it’s noteworthy that amendments to the Defence Act, specifically those affecting presidential military powers, are not set for discussion. This sidestep indicates a strategic decision to concentrate on aligning more immediate defence objectives.

Aside from the main political figures, the meeting will see participation from key government officials, including three of Plenković’s ministers: the ministers of defence, foreign affairs, and finance. Milanović will be supported by his military advisor and the head of the SDP’s Defence Committee.

One of the anticipated outcomes is the scheduling of a military parade to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Operation Storm, a historic military event. The parade’s date and venue are yet to be finalized but are expected to be addressed during the meeting.

This interaction could prove pivotal in bridging political differences and setting a unified direction for Croatia’s defence policy going forward. With high expectations from both state and military leadership, the leaders are under pressure to reach a consensus on the impending defence challenges Croatia faces.

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