Giving a lecture to military academy candidates in Zagreb on Monday, the minister said that 470 Croatian troops were currently deployed in international operations led by the United Nations, NATO and the European Union.
"The NATO membership and activities will be a crucial generator of transformation of the Croatian army into modern armed force, capable of tackling the contemporary challenges," he said adding that the heritage of the Homeland Defence War and principles applied in that war were incorporated into the Croatian military tradition, as well as in the spirit of the present-day and future Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia.
According to the minister, the armed forces must be able to defend Croatia and allies from aggression, to participate in international security and to offer support to civilian institutions.
The minister announced the downsizing of the military staff to 15,000 and some changes in the internal structure.
The command structure from the headquarters to battalion command will be reduced by 25 percent, Bozinovic added.
The land forces will remain the crucial component of the military forces, with 50 percent of them being trained and equipped for deployment in international military operations.
He said that the Air Force would continue using the existing MiG planes and that the purchase of new planes would depend on financial ability.
By 2018, the national system of control and protection of airspace will be completely included into NATO's system, he said.
The number of real estate possessed by the army will also be downsized by 50 percent.
Croatia's Navy will have a military seaport and use facilities of civilian seaports. Two air bases will be available to the Croatian Air Force.
The Croatian defence system will adjust itself to the country's economic situation and the earmarking of 2 percent of GDP for the defence will remain a goal, he said.