ZAGREB, May 29 (Hina) - A reception on the occasion of Croatian Armed Forces Day, May 28, was staged on Tuesday for senior state and military officials and foreign military envoys accredited in Croatia.
ZAGREB, May 29 (Hina) - A reception on the occasion of Croatian
Armed Forces Day, May 28, was staged on Tuesday for senior state and
military officials and foreign military envoys accredited in
Croatia. #L#
The reception was organised by military chief-of-staff Petar
Stipetic, President and military supreme commander Stjepan Mesic,
and Defence Minister Jozo Rados.
Stipetic said the Armed Forces were about to be reorganised
according to western standards in order to expedite integration
into Euro-Atlantic structures.
He announced a reduction in military districts and guard brigades,
as well as younger personnel in order to provide Croatia with a
modern and efficient army which will be able to protect its
sovereignty at any moment.
President Mesic recalled the political situation in which the
Croatian army was created. Croatia was faced with rebellion and
aggression backed by the former Yugoslav army (JNA), was without
its own army and under embargo on the import of weapons, he said.
Mesic paid respect to those who contributed to the creation of the
victorious Croatian army, which he said demonstrated that borders
cannot be altered forcibly. He also added that a people defending
its freedom always wins.
Mesic said Croatia now had to reach European standards, reaffirm
its potentials and join united Europe, Croatia's fate and goal.
Access to European does not constitute the losing of but the
strengthening of Croatia, he said.
Defence Minister Rados recalled that one stage of the military
reorganisation was over and that over the past couple of years
Croatia had joined NATO's Partnership for Peace programme,
becoming an official candidate for admission to the Alliance. He
said that despite reduced financing, the army retained combat
readiness at the top level.
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