In his interview with the Zagreb-based daily Vjesnik on Monday, on the occasion of the Armed Forces' Day, Vukelic said that this year's celebrations of the 18th anniversary of the armed forces would be held in an atmosphere of Croatia's admission to NATO.
The country joined the alliance on 1 April.
Commenting on the effects of the economic crisis on the national military, Minister Vukelic said that the military sector had already taken some steps to make savings.
"With our budget cut of HRK 579 million we will try to make as much as possible. We have retained all our strategic projects," he said.
In this context he recalled that the defence ministry had earlier this month signed a contract with the Karlovac-based company HS Produkt on the delivery of the first 1,000 VHS assault rifles to the Armed Force by December 15.
In the next five years, the military will be provided with ten patrol coastal ships to be built in Croatian shipyards.
In addition, 14 Croatian clothing companies will be engaged in an HRK 70 million deal for producing uniforms for the national army.
The Croatian Armed Forces will mark the 18th anniversary of their foundation in Split, Osijek, Zemunik and Karlovac on May 25-28, the Defence Ministry announced last Friday.
The main celebration will be held in Karlovac on May 28 and will be attended by President Stjepan Mesic in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Parliament President Luka Bebic, Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, government ministers and other senior officials from home and abroad.