MESIC GIVES CONGRATULATIONS MESSAGE TO CROATIAN DEFENCE SOLDIERS

ZAGREB, May 28 (Hina) - Croatian President and Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Stjepan Mesic on Monday relayed a message of congratulations to all Croatian defence soldiers on the tenth anniversary of the establishment of the National Guard Corps, an event deemed to be the start of the formation of the Croatian Armed Forces. "The determination to defend your country of whose independence and sovereignty we dreamt for years, gave you additional stimulation. Today, ten years later, we must appreciate and maintain the values of the Homeland Defence War, its victims and contribution by all veterans. Building a Croatia in the 21st century by respecting our history, we are setting the grounds for a safe future," Mesic said in his message to the Homeland Defence War veterans. Speaking about current problems, Mesic said the Croatian army's priority tasks are reaching standards of NATO's Partnership for Peace programme, and later NATO's. "Membership in Euro-Atlantic security associations brings along many commitments and responsibilities, but it is also the sole framework within which we shall realise our national and state goals as efficiently as possible," Mesic asserted. (hina) lml sb