SARAJEVO, Jan 10 (Hina) - More than one half of the currently employed professional members of the Croat segment of the Army of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina (VF) have said they are ready to voluntarily leave military service
if federal authorities give them severance pays to start their own businesses. "More than 50% of 7,200 members of the Croat army component have said they are willing to leave of their own accord if they are given severance pays," a spokesman for the federal defence ministry, Antun Mrkonjic, told Hina on Thursday. The official stand of the federal defence minister Mijo Anic is that those who choose to voluntarily leave military service should be given 10,000 convertible marks each to start their own businesses. The Bosniak side favours the drawing up of special employment programmes rather than the allocation of money. Officials of the Federation government have announced that as of this month, fu
SARAJEVO, Jan 10 (Hina) - More than one half of the currently
employed professional members of the Croat segment of the Army of
the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina (VF) have said they are ready
to voluntarily leave military service if federal authorities give
them severance pays to start their own businesses.
"More than 50% of 7,200 members of the Croat army component have
said they are willing to leave of their own accord if they are given
severance pays," a spokesman for the federal defence ministry,
Antun Mrkonjic, told Hina on Thursday.
The official stand of the federal defence minister Mijo Anic is that
those who choose to voluntarily leave military service should be
given 10,000 convertible marks each to start their own businesses.
The Bosniak side favours the drawing up of special employment
programmes rather than the allocation of money.
Officials of the Federation government have announced that as of
this month, funds will be available only for 13,000 professional
officers and soldiers, which means that some 10,000 VF members will
be left without income regardless of their formal status in the
army.
Minister Anic claims the only solution is a radical and fast
reduction of the army. Some 100 million marks are needed to provide
for the dismissed soldiers. The federation government has secured
one half of the required amount and is negotiating with the
governments of five countries who have shown readiness to donate
the remaining funds.
(hina) sb rml