ZAGREB, March 19 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament on Monday adopted a national security strategy and a defence strategy, and passed a defence-military package, thus creating a legal framework for military reform. The national security
strategy regulates the long-term development of the Croatian security system. The important components are internal security, the functioning of the justice system, preventing corruption and organised crime, and environmental protection. Under the new defence law, the government has a greater role than before and the Main Staff expert authorities must be respected more than before. According to the law, persons must be older than 18 to serve the military. Under the existing law, persons who have not yet turned 18 can serve. The parliament also passed a law on service in the Croatian Armed Forces designed to keep the military out of politics. It bans political activities
ZAGREB, March 19 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament on Monday adopted
a national security strategy and a defence strategy, and passed a
defence-military package, thus creating a legal framework for
military reform.
The national security strategy regulates the long-term development
of the Croatian security system. The important components are
internal security, the functioning of the justice system,
preventing corruption and organised crime, and environmental
protection.
Under the new defence law, the government has a greater role than
before and the Main Staff expert authorities must be respected more
than before. According to the law, persons must be older than 18 to
serve the military. Under the existing law, persons who have not yet
turned 18 can serve.
The parliament also passed a law on service in the Croatian Armed
Forces designed to keep the military out of politics. It bans
political activities in the buildings and units of the armed
forces, and bars Armed Forces members from joining political
parties.
Also adopted was a law on the production, overhaul and trade of
weapons and military equipment (NVO). Under the law, a government
agency monitors the export production and conducts the export and
import of NVO. The agency will also have a data base on the export
and import of NVO.
The parliament also passed a law which regulates the participation
of Croatian Armed Forces members in peace operations abroad.
A legal framework for defence system reform has been created by the
adoption of new legislation. The reform includes reductions in the
Croatian Defence Ministry and the Croatian Armed Forces.
According to a plan presented by Defence Minister Jozo Rados in the
parliament last week, the number of Defence Ministry and Armed
Forces members should drop from the current 40,400 to between
26,850 and 25,000 by the end of June or September.
The Croatian parliament will resume its session this afternoon,
after a break requested by the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS). The
HSS requested the break to enable the coordinating body of the
ruling five-party coalition to agree on amendments to bills on the
privatisation of INA oil company and the Power Supply Company.
The Croatian Democratic Union parliamentary bench also requested a
break.
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