ZAGREB, Jan 9 (Hina) - The new Croatian defence minister, Berislav Roncevic, on Friday held a reception for the military diplomatic corps accredited in Croatia and on this occasion said that Croatia was expecting further assistance of
foreign military attaches on its road towards NATO and bids to enhance regional stability.
ZAGREB, Jan 9 (Hina) - The new Croatian defence minister, Berislav
Roncevic, on Friday held a reception for the military diplomatic corps
accredited in Croatia and on this occasion said that Croatia was
expecting further assistance of foreign military attaches on its road
towards NATO and bids to enhance regional stability.#L#
The new minister said that he was a jurist and had so far had no
experience in the defence sector. He, however, accepted this office
bearing in mind what Prime Minister Ivo Sanader said -- that a
successful minister should be a good organizer, have competent
associates and be open for dialogue and willing to work around the
clock.
Roncevic thanked his predecessor Zeljka Antunovic for her efforts to
reform the military successfully. In 2003, 8,000 memebrs of the
Defence Ministry left their job in a bid to render the Croatian army
smaller and more efficient.
He went on to say that Croatia would cooperate with 29 countries in
534 events in 2004 and enhance its contribution to peace missions in
the world and to stability in the region.
On behalf of the military diplomatic corps, British Lieutenant Richard
Tornelli thanked Minister Roncevic for receiving them as soon as he
took over the post of Croatia's defence minister.
Tornelli said the military attaches respected efforts Croatia had to
date invested in reforming the military and that Zagreb could continue
counting on the support of the military diplomatic corps in light of
the fact that 2004 would bring greater challenges on the coutnry's
road towards NATO.
After the reception, Roncevic was asked to say why he had proposed
that Prime Minister Ivo Sanader's former bodyguard, Mayor Stipe
Cacaij, should be awarded the presidential pension. The minister
answered reporters that authorised military services had proposed this
to President Stjepan Mesic, and that he did not know that there was
anything against the law in this procedure. Besides, Roncevic does not
know about disciplinary proceedings which former Defence Minister
Antunovic lodged against Cacija before the military court. The new
government appointed Cacija as assistant interior minister.
Roncevic confirmed reports that Major General Ljubo CesicRojs, an MP
in the previous Croatian parliament, had applied for returning into
the Defence Ministry. Roncevic said relevant services would consider
the request.
(Hina)