The report is objective and it does not cover up the real situation, the minister said. It is true that the military technique and armament is old and out of date, but the modernisation process has been launched, he said.
Roncevic said the report was late because his ministry wanted the document to cover the financial period until the end of 2005.
The report says that although the need for further reforms still exists, the defence system is able to fulfill its fundamental purpose - to counter possible attacks on the Republic of Croatia and to protect its sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and security of its citizens.
According to the document that Roncevic presented to reporters today, the possibility of a conventional conflict in which Croatia's territory could become part of a larger war front, is very little. The report also stresses that countries that could represent a possible threat to Croatia do not have highly sophisticated, but mostly conventional forces.
The report states that despite the trend of gradual stabilisation, instability could still occur and spread in Croatia's neighbourhood. Also mentioned is the possibility of a sudden threat as a result of the development of new global and regional relations.
The report also deals with international terrorism which gives a new dimension to all other forms of transnational threats (international organised crime) and which can also cause conventional conflicts.
According to the report, the Croatian Armed Forces are investing maximum efforts to maintain combat readiness on the necessary level and to realise all significant tasks within the set deadlines.
Roncevic dismissed media speculation about the abolishment of conscription, stressing that the government was tackling the idea to "freeze" the compulsory military military service and introduce a voluntary military service, but not before 2010.