CROATIAN GOVERNMENT ADOPTS ARMED FORCES TRANSITION PROGRAMME

ZAGREB, Oct 3 (Hina) - By the end of 2005, the number of personnel in the Armed Forces should decrease from the present 40,000 to 19,520. For this transition programme some 1.6 billion kuna would be needed. #L# This was established through a programme of transition and providing for a part of Armed Forces personnel (SPECTRA) which was adopted by the government on Thursday. The reorganisation of the army does not only mean a decrease in the number of its employees, but a change in the organisation and a decrease of military locations, Defence Minister Zeljka Antunovic said. She said the SPECTRA programme's goal was for every redundant person, that is, anyone who did not satisfy the norms, to have a support in finding their position in the civilian society. In line with the above, Croatia is introducing a globally known project "a second career" as a permanent programme which trains military personnel for civilian life, and also enables a permanent rejuvenation of the Armed Forces. SPECRA is viewed as observing NATO standards which guarantees that each person will be told the exact date of leaving the Armed Forces six months before. The notice period should be used for the professional retraining. These rules, however, do not apply to civilian personnel in the military, but they will be taken care of, the ministry says. The government expects all ministries to be involved in providing for military redundancies. The government on Thursday adopted an Annual National Programme, an official document regulating Croatia's relations with NATO. Interior Minister Sime Lucin obtained the government's permission to sign an agreement on cross-border police cooperation with Slovenia. This agreement, he said, envisages a joint control of the two countries' borders, an establishment of joint patrols and liaison officers. (hina) lml sb