Gov. Mark Dayton told reporters on a conference call today that military and civilian officials in Croatia and the American embassy there "stressed what an important relationship this is."
Dayton is in the midst of a visit to Croatia to mark the 20th anniversary of a partnership between the Minnesota National Guard and the Croatian military.
Last January, Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović visited the Twin Cities at the invitation of the Minnesota National Guard and met with Dayton at the governor's residence.
Dayton said he attended a ribbon cutting at a school this week where the National Guard helped modernize a school kitchen, as well as a ceremony to mark the 20-year anniversary of the relationship.
Dayton said Croatian officials said training from the Guard had helped prepare them to join NATO and the full economic and military protectorate of the European Union.
Grabar-Kitarović will meet with Dayton Saturday.
Minnesota's former Gov. Rudy Perpich, a mentor to Dayton, is still held in high regard in Croatia given his Croatian-American heritage and time he spent there after his tenure as governor.
"They're very proud of this connection," Dayton said. He met officials who still have autographed photos of Perpich in their offices.
Dayton will be back in time for a July 4 parade in Delano, he said.
