The U.S.-Croatia partnership continues to deliver for communities across Croatia. Today Charge d’Affaires Mark Fleming joined Deputy Prime Minister Medved, Osječko-Baranjska County Prefect Anušić, Osijek City Mayor Radić and other senior officials to break ground of a new Regional Veterans Affairs Center in Osijek, supported with 2.6 million Kuna from the U.S. government.
The U.S. Embassy is committed to strengthening our partnership with Croatia and the Croatian people. The new facility will enable Croatian veterans to get the care they need, including in mental health.
The Croatian Ministry of Veteran’s Affairs will own and maintain the facility, which is the first in eastern Croatia equipped to provide care of this kind. It supports the Croatian Government’s efforts to reduce the social and political marginalization of veterans.
The U.S. Embassy also donated medical equipment valued at approximately 570,000 Kuna to Osijek Hospital, including a mobile X-ray machine to improve the facility’s emergency response capabilities. The funding for these two projects comes from U.S. EUCOM.
Charge d’Affaires Fleming noted this equipment will improve the hospital’s emergency medical response capabilities across the region.
“Today is about much more than equipment. The relationship we have fostered with the Ministry of Health and the community in Osijek will continue to grow and open new avenues for U.S.-Croatia engagement. We commend your efforts, hard work and the long hours you have put in serving your community over the course of the incredibly tough past year. This donation from the United States will support your hospital’s ability to tend to those in need, which we know is vitally important to everyone here today.”
The United States is proud to collaborate with Croatia on this project to help Croatian veterans. Defense cooperation between the United States and Croatia is a cornerstone of our relationship. Over the past 10 years, U.S. military assistance to Croatia reached approximately four and a half billion Kuna (over $700 million) in the form of training, equipment, infrastructure construction, and specialized military education. Since Croatia joined the NATO Alliance 12 years ago, our soldiers have served shoulder-to-shoulder from Afghanistan to Poland to Kosovo. Croatia is a substantive contributor to regional stability and international security.