After two and a half hours of waiting, the reporters were address by Croatian Army commander Marijan Marekovic who said that the Americans had informed members of the 2nd Guard Brigade of the activities in Minnesota and that all other decisions would be made according to the Croatian legislation.
According to unofficial information, the ceremony was not held because deputies in Croatian parliament raised a question earlier today why members of the Croatian Army were travelling outside the Croatian borders without a parliamentary decision.
Parliament Speaker Vladimir Seks said that parliament would as early as today voice its opinion about the proposal for the holding of military exercises in 2005 and decide whether or not members of the Croatia Army could participate in the exercise in the United States without consent of the parliament.
Croatian Army public relations officer Snjezana Tomic told reporters today that the departure of soldiers to the US was not in question and that it should take place on June 10-26, as scheduled.
The Croatian Army platoon and officers who completed military training in West Point in Minnesota will attend a joint military exercise with the Minnesota National guard. According to a statement issued by the Croatian Defence Ministry, the exercise is aimed at developing partnership between the two countries' armed forces and reaching NATO standards. The ministry said the plans for the joint exercise were made in 2004.