ZAGREB, Mar 1 (Hina) - Croatian Defence Minister Jozo Rados on Wednesday told reporters his talks with President Stipe Mesic earlier today tackled the separation of powers of the President and the Ministry of Defence, in the wake of
new circumstances and changes to the law on the state administration system. Rados said he and Mesic also discussed personnel changes, namely appointments of Ministry of Defence and Main Headquarters administration commissioners, discussed in principle military district commanders. "There were no talks on concrete names or positions," he said. "The Croatian Army Chief-Of-Staff is appointed by the President of the Republic and there is no dispute about that. As regards, the appointments of administration commissioners, we have tried to reach an agreement," Rados said. President Mesic's adviser on defence and military issues, Lt. Gen. Imra Agotic, said the Croatian Army Chi
ZAGREB, Mar 1 (Hina) - Croatian Defence Minister Jozo Rados on
Wednesday told reporters his talks with President Stipe Mesic
earlier today tackled the separation of powers of the President and
the Ministry of Defence, in the wake of new circumstances and
changes to the law on the state administration system.
Rados said he and Mesic also discussed personnel changes, namely
appointments of Ministry of Defence and Main Headquarters
administration commissioners, discussed in principle military
district commanders. "There were no talks on concrete names or
positions," he said.
"The Croatian Army Chief-Of-Staff is appointed by the President of
the Republic and there is no dispute about that. As regards, the
appointments of administration commissioners, we have tried to
reach an agreement," Rados said.
President Mesic's adviser on defence and military issues, Lt. Gen.
Imra Agotic, said the Croatian Army Chief-Of-Staff should be
appointed in the coming days.
According to Rados, it is illogical that administration
commissioners are under the President's, and assistant ministers
under the government's jurisdiction.
"It is an illogicality which came about in the wake of legislative
changes," he explained, adding military district commanders were
under the jurisdiction of the President of the Republic and that
this would stay so.
If he deems it necessary, the President of the Republic may
authorise the minister of defence to appoint administration
commissioners. Were President Mesic to do so, the appointments
would not be done quickly, said Rados, adding there was no need to
change the structure overnight, but wait until the right solutions
were found for such expert positions.
As regards appointments of the defence minister's assistants for
equipment and provision, information technology and
communications, they will be suggested by parties of the ruling
coalition, in keeping with previous agreements.
"Once they are suggested, we will establish if they meet expert
criteria, and then I might recommend that the government appoint
them," said Minister Rados.
He said he and Mesic today also discussed Croatia's approaching
NATO's Partnership for Peace programme and joint military
exercises with United States forces, as well as the reorganisation
of the Defence Ministry and the Croatian Army.
"These are regular topics in the jurisdiction of the Ministry of
Defence. The supreme commander of the Armed Forces should be
informed about and state his position on them," Rados concluded.
(hina) ha jn