ZAGREB, Jan 25 (Hina) - Croatian Defence Minister Zeljka Antunovic said on Saturday the country's defence-security system was completely stable and capable of guaranteeing security.
ZAGREB, Jan 25 (Hina) - Croatian Defence Minister Zeljka Antunovic
said on Saturday the country's defence-security system was
completely stable and capable of guaranteeing security. #L#
"Despite numerous problems and the ongoing reorganisation, the
defence-security system is stable and capable of guaranteeing
security at any moment, as well as carrying out its tasks as defined
by the Constitution and laws," Antunovic said at a news conference
in Zagreb.
The minister dismissed as misinformation media claims questioning
the combat readiness of the army and reports of a crumbling chain of
command and disobedience, as well as allegations that the country's
security has been threatened.
She said she would request the State Prosecution to analyse the
reports and establish if they constituted the criminal act of
dissemination of false information aimed at disturbing the
public.
The minister suspects the sources of the misinformation could be
some senior officers who were recently sent into retirement.
If by some chance the said reports proved true, those officers would
be considered the most responsible for the possibly unsatisfactory
situation in the armed forces, the minister said, but declined to
name any names. She said the number of such officers was
insignificant and they themselves could figure out if they had
overstepped their powers.
The purpose of the allegations is to prevent the reorganisation of
the ministry and armed forces by exaggerating everyday events in
the system to the level of incidents, the minister said.
Antunovic said the allegations culminated with the ruling civil and
military structures being accused of neglecting the modernisation
of the air force and navy to the benefit of land forces. The
accusation was launched using an expert NATO analysis which
objectively warns about restrictions in the development of some
military services, she added.
The army chief-of-staff, Lieutenant General Josip Lucic, briefly
said that "the level of combat readiness of the Croatian armed
forces is as it should be and the country's security is not
threatened".
Antunovic announced a special press conference for next week, when
she will present concrete data to prove that the allegations are
false.
She called on all members of and civilians working in the armed
forces not to believe false information.
(hina) rml