"The US is Croatia's most important partner in military cooperation and I am glad of this visit. This is a confirmation of good relations after continuous activities over a number of years," said Roncevic, adding he was very pleased the USS Enterprise had aroused a lot of interest among the local population.
Rear Admiral Spicer said they were very honoured and excited about the arrival in Split and Croatia.
The two officials spoke of new forms of cooperation and underlined that it was developing very well. "I hope we will soon intensify this cooperation, notably with a programme of education and training for our commissioned and non-commissioned officers," Roncevic said, adding the Americans did not hide that they, too, had something to learn from Croatia's commissioned and non-commissioned officers from the Homeland War.
We consider Croatia a strong ally and a valuable partner and are grateful for every opportunity to expand relations and cooperation, said Spicer.
We hope and would like to come more often because this a beautiful city and it is a pleasure to be here, he said, voicing confidence that it would not take another 30 years before a US aircraft carrier tied in Split's waters.
Asked if this constituted a stronger rapprochement of the US and Croatian military policies, Roncevic jokingly said "this is a big vessel, very significant" and that in this sense "the visit too is more significant, but cooperation has constantly been good since I am minister".
"When we receive the invitation to NATO, and I am confident this will be very soon, our people have to be prepared. This is one form of connecting, getting to know one another and cooperating," said Roncevic.
Commenting on yesterday's protest by the Green of Dalmatia association against the anchoring of a ship sailing on nuclear power, the minister said Croatian laws allowed for such ships to enter Croatian waters and that with its arrival, the USS Enterprise had confirmed that there was no danger. "Croatian citizens can be calm."
A Congressional Medal of Honour will be presented on the ship tomorrow to the descendants of Peter Tomich, an American sailor of Croatian origin who saved a ship's crew during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.