ZAGREB, April 5 (Hina) - NATO's Commander for Europe, US General Joseph Ralston, welcomed the successfully completed adoption of defence-related legislation as part of a reform of the Croatian defence system at meetings with high
state officials in Zagreb on Friday.
ZAGREB, April 5 (Hina) - NATO's Commander for Europe, US General
Joseph Ralston, welcomed the successfully completed adoption of
defence-related legislation as part of a reform of the Croatian
defence system at meetings with high state officials in Zagreb on
Friday. #L#
President Stjepan Mesic said during his meeting with Ralston that
the adoption of defence strategies and laws provided a framework
for the continuation of army reorganisation with the aim of
achieving NATO standards as a precondition for full membership in
the Alliance, the President's Office said in a statement.
During a meeting with Prime Minister Ivica Racan, the US general
expressed congratulations on the successful adoption of defence
legislation, adding that the reduction of military personnel
should not be too fast as in that case most funds would be spent on
programmes of care for laid-off personnel, instead of for army
modernisation, training and equipment, read a statement issued
after the meeting.
"NATO is more than a military organisation for Croatia. Integration
processes in Europe are inevitable, but they must not be hasty,"
Racan said, adding that Croatia wanted to contribute to the fight
against terrorism.
Gen. Ralston thanked Croatia for its efforts in fighting terrorism
and support for the United States. Decisions on support for an
integral Bosnia-Herzegovina, cooperation with the Hague-based UN
war crimes tribunal, and refugee return will be good for Croatia in
the long run, he said.
(hina) sb rml