SEMINAR ON CIVIL SUPERVISION OF ARMED FORCE BEGINS IN ZAGREB

ZAGREB, May 22 (Hina) - A two-day seminar on civil supervision of the armed forces began in Zagreb on Monday with introductory speeches by Croatian Defence Minister Jozo Rados and United States Ambassador to Croatia William Montgomery. The seminar will include lectures by U.S. navy academy post- graduate lecturers. Minister Rados extended gratitude to friends from the U.S. and NATO member-states, who he said with their knowledge and experience wanted to assist in finding the best model of civil supervision of the armed forces. According to the defence minister, there is no model guaranteeing success beforehand. Existing models cannot be copied, because every country has its specific qualities and must therefore find its own way of resolving the issue of civil supervision of the armed forces, he said. Impending changes in Croatia's Constitution should more appropriately regulate relations between civil structures of authority and the armed forces, Rados asserted. The defence minister believes the supervision of the intelligence system, which he said was currently in the "stage of openness", is especially important. According to U.S. Ambassador Montgomery, Croatia's new authorities have made a considerable step forward. Croatia has the prospect of becoming one of NATO's best members, he assessed. Also attending the seminar is the Croatian army's Chief-Of-Staff General Petar Stipetic, and senior officials of the Defence Ministry. (hina) ha mm