ARMY CHANGES INCITED BY CHANGES IN CROATIA - SAYS NATO OFFICIAL

ZAGREB, April 10 (Hina) - Changes in Croatia's armed forces and their adjustment to NATO structures are the result of co-operation with NATO and of the positive changes which have taken place in Croatia in recent months, NATO Parliamentary Assembly president Javier Ruperez said in Zagreb on Monday. Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Croatian Defence Minister Jozo Rados, Ruperez said he had been given a detailed and illustrative overview of changes in the Croatian army in connection with its reduction, rationalisation, and adjustment to NATO structures. Ruperez said the changes were not just the result of talks between Croatia's authorities and NATO, but also of the deep positive changes which took place in Croatia over the past months and weeks. The NATO official said great prospects were ahead of Croatia to soon become an associate NATO member. He also expressed hope Croatia would soon become join NATO's Partnership for Peace programme. These events are a good sign that Croatia will play a useful role in stabilising and democratising the entire region. Minister Rados said Croatia demonstrated its orientation to access NATO and willingness to as soon as possible approach Euro-Atlantic integration through changes and co-operation. A lot of work awaits Croatia before reaching that objective, the defence minister said. "Here in Croatia we have done a lot in the past few months," he concluded. Also taking part in today's talks were NATO Parliamentary Assembly Secretary-General Simon Lunn, and the Croatian army Chief-Of-Staff Petar Stipetic. (hina) ha mm