MINISTER SAYS MILITARY FACILITIES TO BE HANDED OVER TO LOCAL GOVT

KOPRIVNICA, July 2 (Hina) - The visit of Croatian Defence Minister Jozo Rados to the Koprivnica-based barracks "Fran Krsto Frankopan" marked the start of the project of opening military training centres to the public, after which he spoke to county officials on handing over military facilities to the local government for civilian needs. The Defence Ministry's "Open Gate" project plans to have military training centres open their gates to the parents of soldiers, the media and citizens every first Friday in the month, as of August 1. Rados stressed the project is significant and in line with the essential democratic tendencies of opening institutions which have traditionally been closed to the public, thus creating the danger of becoming an end in themselves. Citizens will see for themselves that, after the army decreased the conscription period and the personnel, the standard of the soldiers has improved, Rados stressed. Asked by reporters about the anchoring of American nuclear submarines in Croatian waters, Rados said this was contrary to the law which must be abided by all, including American ships in the future. The Defence Ministry recently said the anchoring of the submarines off the coast of Dubrovnik was a "mistake in procedure", but will have no effect on the environment. (hina) lml sb