CROATIAN, FRENCH MILITARY CHIEFS-OF-STAFF HOLD TALKS

ZAGREB, March 16 (Hina) - Croatia's military chief-of-staff General Petar Stipetic on Friday received his French colleague Jean-Pierre Kelche for talks on military cooperation between the two countries and the situation in the region. Croatia briefed the French delegation about the situation in its Armed Forces and vision of their development, Stipetic told reporters in Zagreb, adding the talks also addressed security issues in Bosnia, Kosovo, and Macedonia. The Croatian and French views on the matter are very similar, he said, adding the talks would resume in the afternoon, focusing on international military cooperation and Croatian-French bilateral cooperation. French military chief-of-staff Kelche said Croatian-French military cooperation was important especially in view of Croatia's aspiration to integrate into Euro-Atlantic structures. Kelche said 30 activities related to military training had been adjusted and realised thus far, and hoped the cooperation would proceed in the spirit of partnership. Asked about the recent reduction of United States soldiers in Bosnia, Kelche said it would not affect their efficiency in performing the peace-keeping mission. In the afternoon, the French delegation will be received by Croatia's President Stipe Mesic, Defence Minister Jozo Rados, the foreign minister's assistant for multilateral issues, Vladimir Matek, and the chairwoman of the lower house committee on internal affairs and national security, Djurdja Adlesic. (hina) ha