Dayton headed to Croatia to mark 20-year partnership
Gov. Mark Dayton is traveling to Croatia this week to celebrate the 20-year relationship between that country and the Minnesota National Guard.
Dayton will lead a state delegation of more than 40 people, including military and civilian representatives. The itinerary includes visits to a school and military facilities, as well as meetings with top government leaders. He’s scheduled to return July 3.
The partnership between Minnesota and Croatia began in 1996, when the Minnesota National Guard began training military personnel in the newly-independent country.
Non-military connections have also been made through the State Partnership Program, said Col. Kevin Olson, a spokesman for the Minnesota National Guard.
“What began as a very effective and important military relationship, that ultimately assisted Croatia become part of NATO, also blossomed into a great civilian-to-civilian relationship,” Olson said.
Olson said the program linked Croatian officials with the city of St. Paul to discuss flood recovery issues and with the University of Minnesota to discuss cyber security.
Gov. Dayton hosted a similar celebration back in January, when Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović traveled to St. Paul.
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