PROMOTION CEREMONY IN ARMED FORCES TAKES PLACE

ZAGREB, Aug 4 (Hina) - An envoy of the Croatian President and Supreme Commander, General Josip Lucic, said during Monday's promotion ceremony in the armed forces on the occasion of Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day that the reform of the army must be implemented fully, with this year being the most difficult in performing the task. #L# The times ahead are very demanding and the reform must be fully implemented, but the common man, the individual, should not be forgotten in the process, Lucic said during the ceremony of promoting eight generals and 25 army brigadiers, among others. The general voiced particular satisfaction with the fact that officers who had taken part in the Homeland War from day one had been promoted to the ranks of general. The President and Supreme Commander of the Croatian Armed Forces, Stjepan Mesic, promoted 505 officers to higher ranks on the occasion of Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day, August 5. At the ceremony Lucic recalled the establishment of the Croatian armed forces which, from a mere 5,000 trained soldiers in 1990 and 1991, grew into an army of more than 250,000 soldiers in only six months, an army which went through the harsh experience of war and liberated its homeland. An army established for the purpose of war had to be transformed into a peace-time one in a short period of time, which has been a difficult task, the general said. He expressed satisfaction that the job was being carried out well after six months of reform. Lucic added the army would vacate some 50 military facilities this year. Croatia is fulfilling its obligations from the Partnership for Peace programme, 75 Croatian soldiers are taking part in peace missions around the globe and an excess of a thousand are extinguishing fires across Croatia these days, the general said. (hina) lml sb