US embassy in Zagreb

Croatia will procure 12 used French F3R Rafale fighter jets to modernise the country's airforce, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic announced on Friday.

"This is the largest investment in the Croatian Armed Forces, the largest investment in ensuring lasting peace and the security of Croatian citizens," the Prime Minister said referencing the price of 999 million euros.

The US embassy in Zagreb told BIRN on Wednesday that, although the US Government does not generally comment on allies' arms procurements, Washington strongly supports Croatia's modernization of its defence system, including the purchase of F-16 jets from Israel.

"The US government has given permission to the state of Israel to offer the Israeli F-16 to Croatia, and we have that document. Israel is obliged to deliver a NATO-compatible aircraft to Croatia ...  and delivery is also the responsibility of the state of Israel," Krsticevic said.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic confirmed on Wednesday that he had accepted Tuesday's invitation from Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic to visit Zagreb.

"I consider it is important for our country to receive this invitation; we accept that invitation, it [meeting] will be held on February 12th and 13th; I will talk to all Croatian officials," Vucic said.

Senior US official Hoyt Brian Yee will be the new US ambassador to FYROM (Macedonia), the US State Department has confirmed for Jazeera.

He will replace Jess Baily, who was appointed as US ambassador in Skopje in December 2014.

He will replace Jess Baily, who was appointed as US ambassador in Skopje in December 2014.

Yee is a diplomat and current US deputy assistant secretary of state for Europe and European affairs.

He is in charge of United States relations with the countries of Central and South-Eastern Europe.

Around 200 journalists and activists joined a protest walk from the headquarters of the Croatian Journalists' Association, HND to the culture ministry in central Zagreb on World Press Freedom Day on Tuesday to raise concerns about the media situation in the country.

Journalists and editors will gather Tuesday at the headquarters of the Croatian Journalists' Association, HND, to stage a protest walk toward the nearby building of the national culture ministry.