CRO DEFENCE MINISTER AND OSCE REP. ON CUTS IN MILITARY BUDGETS

ZAGREB, Jan 26 (Hina) - Croatia's Defence Minister Jozo Rados and the head of the OSCE mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Robert Barry, on Friday held talks on the slashing of the funds earmarked for the budgets of armed forces in Bosnia, and they also considered the further progress in the implementation of the sub-regional arms control agreement. To control how the money earmarked for the military purpose is spent in Bosnia is in the interest of that country as well as in the interest of its neighbours, Minister Rados told reporters after his meeting with Barry in Zagreb. Croatia has fulfilled all of its obligations and is going full steam ahead with the implementation of the sub-regional arms control agreement, Rados said adding that regarding new political circumstances in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) and the enhanced security situation in the region he was confident that there were possibilities for further progress and accelerated negotiations in order to increase limits on weapons in this part of Europe. Rados expressed the readiness of his country, which was always co- operative, to contribute to that process. American diplomat Barry expressed great satisfaction with today's talks and voiced confidence that there were new possibilities for the cooperation in the field of the security in this region. In Belgrade, Zagreb, and Sarajevo all are now asserting they have no money for the military and are speaking of the necessity to cut military costs, the OSCE official added. (hina) ms