"My life's dream came true with the signing of this agreement, namely that the Kosovo army which I am building, and the Croatian army, which I had been part of, are cooperating on the basis of friendship," said the Kosovo minister, who also holds the rank of brigadier in the Croatian Army.
Ceku, an ethnic Albanian, had attended the Military Academy in the Croatian coastal city of Zadar, to join the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) as an artillery captain. In 1991 when Croatia began the war for its independence from Yugoslavia, he deserted the JNA and joined the Croatian National Guard. In 1998 he filed a request for retirement to go to Kosovo and joined the Kosovo Liberation Army in 1999.
"We view Croatia as a leader and a military, political, cultural and economic power and we are very interested in developing cooperation on all fronts," said Ceku who fought as a member as the Croatian Army in Lika and the Zadar hinterland during the 1991-1995 Homeland Defence War.
Recalling that Croatia had already signed similar agreements with neighbouring countries, Minister Kotromanovic pointed out the importance of this agreement for the region.
"We are ready to help Kosovo's Security Forces and the agreement will contribute to the strengthening of security in the entire region," said the Croatian minister announcing his visit to Kosovo later this year.
In that youngest European country, there are 20 Croatian troops serving as members of the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR).