ZAGREB, March 20 (Hina) - The National Security Strategy adopted in parliament on Tuesday for the first time defines in a modern way new concepts such as internal security and the security of the economic, justice and financial
system, Croatian Defence Minister Jozo Rados said on Wednesday.
ZAGREB, March 20 (Hina) - The National Security Strategy adopted in
parliament on Tuesday for the first time defines in a modern way new
concepts such as internal security and the security of the
economic, justice and financial system, Croatian Defence Minister
Jozo Rados said on Wednesday. #L#
Croatia thus for the first time got laws and strategies which
completely define the areas of the Armed Forces, defence and
national security, Rados told reporters.
In case of an attack by modern world armies, Croatia has no way of
defending itself on its own because it neither has the required
strength nor a modern army. This means that Croatia has to seek
security within international security systems, he said.
Croatia must not ignore the development of its security systems nor
the modernisation and decrease of the Armed Forces, Rados said.
An important element of the reform of the Armed Forces is the amount
of the military budget, which should account for some 2.2 percent of
GDP under NATO standards, said Rados. This year's military budget
accounts for 2.35 percent of GDP, he said. A decrease in the number
of army personnel and the separation of some sections from the
defence ministry system will reduce the military budget as soon as
next year, he added.
After the passing of these laws and strategies, the President
should pass a military strategy at the suggestion of the Defence
Ministry, and a document on the size of the armed forces and the
division of the country into military districts.
This document has been harmonised, Rados said. According to the
document, Croatia would be divided into four military districts or
corps, and would have four guard brigades, Rados said. He added that
the documents should be adopted within the next several days.
At the ministry's proposal, the parliament will very soon adopt a
long-term development plan for the Armed Forces until 2015.
Asked about criteria for remaining active in the military, Rados
said he had met union representatives today, and it had not yet been
defined who would remain employed. About 10,000 active military
personnel and 3,500 public employees in the military will be taken
care of through programmes, he said.
After the reform, the Armed Forces and the Defence Ministry will
number around 25,000 people - 22,000 active military personnel and
around 3,000 public employees.
(hina) lml sb