PRESIDENT MESIC DRAWS GUIDELINES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF ARMY

ZAGREB, March 1 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic on Monday drew up guidelines at a meeting with Defence Minister Jozo Rados for the development and reorganisation of the Defence Ministry and Croatian armed forces. The development guidelines are aimed at maintaining national security and quality of the level of readiness with a realistic number of troops, entry into Euro-Atlantic security associations (Partnership for Peace and NATO), and a transparency of the Croatian defence system, the President's Office said in a statement. Mesic expects the drawing up of long-term (10 to 15 years), middle- term and short-term plans for developing the Defence Ministry and the armed forces with a focus on restructuring the Ministry into a civilian organisation, and a reduction of employees. It is necessary to restructure the armed forces, including a new territorial division of Croatia, a redefinition of the number and structure of guard brigades, a promotion of the entire system of education in the Croatian armed forces, a reduction of conscription time, better regulation of the salary system in the armed forces, strengthening international military cooperation and a constant modernisation of the Croatian armed forces, the statement said. (hina) lml jn