CROATIAN DEFENCE MINISTER SPEAKS AT ROYAL UNITED SERVICES INSTITUTE

LONDON, March 17 (Hina) - Croatian Defence Minister Jozo Rados spoke at the Royal United Services Institute in London on Friday about changes about to be implemented in the Croatian Defence Ministry. The Royal United Services Institute deals with issues of global security. The programme of reforms in the Defence Ministry and Croatian Armed Forces should be completed by the end of June, and its application should end by the end of the current Government's mandate, Rados said. He explained the idea was for the reforms to be implemented in seven half-year periods, beginning in June. In the future constitutional changes would be reflected in the defence field, where the authorities of the president would be transferred to the Government. Rados said the new appointments of deputies and associates to the defence minister already reflected the policy in which ministry officials would be government employees, not generals. He explained political duties in the Ministry would differ from professional duties, in which the bearers of political duties would change according to political changes, while the government employees would not be affected by these. The number of Ministry departments will be decreased. Also, the number of personnel in professional military troops will be reduced for one third or a quarter. The number of operative units and the period of conscription would also be lessened, Rados added. (hina) lml