CROATIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY DELEGATION RETURNS FROM USA

ZAGREB, May 29 (Hina) - A Croatian Defence Ministry on Monday returned from an official visit to the United States, where it held talks at the Pentagon and the United Nations, and attended the graduation ceremony of the first Croat who graduated from the US Military Academy West Point. The delegation, headed by Deputy Defence Minister Zlatko Gareljic, also included the Deputy Commander of the Armed Forces' Main Staff, Major General Damir Krsticevic, and Assistant Defence Minister Ivan Kozlica. "We held talks on a rather high level at the Pentagon regarding new opportunities that are opening up for Croatia because of its membership in Partnership for Peace," Gareljic told reporters at Zagreb airport. Discussed at the United Nations was the peace operation in Sierra Leone and especially "the work of our troops in Sierra Leone, their safety and the safety of peace forces." The Defence Ministry delegation on Saturday attended the graduation ceremony of Jasen Drnasin, the first Croat to graduate from West Point. According to Gareljic, Drnasin will return to Croatia to take over the command of the 4th Guard Brigade. According to Gareljic, the two sides also agreed on widening cooperation as regards the education of Croatian officers. (hina) rml