ZAGREB, Aug 4 (Hina) - Croatia's armed forces should be based on the values of the modern democratic world as well as on the values that have arisen from our history and which represent our particularity enabling us to give our
recognisable contribution to the modern community of states and nations, a part of which we would like to be, said Defence Minister Jozo Rados on Friday's party held on the occasion of Croatian Armed Forces Day and the National Gratitude Day.
ZAGREB, Aug 4 (Hina) - Croatia's armed forces should be based on the
values of the modern democratic world as well as on the values that
have arisen from our history and which represent our particularity
enabling us to give our recognisable contribution to the modern
community of states and nations, a part of which we would like to be,
said Defence Minister Jozo Rados on Friday's party held on the
occasion of Croatian Armed Forces Day and the National Gratitude
Day.#L#
Addressing guests, Minister Rados said Armed Forces Day was
celebrated this year at the time of the first democratic change of
authority.
"With no major difficulties, we shall accept all democratic
standards and lead our country into a peaceful period of life,"
Croatian Defence Minister added.
Our armed forces are a part of our society and they cannot enjoy any
special position, Rados said.
He thanked all Croatian Army (HV) members for following this
democratic process with full awareness and understanding, as this
process "is the only future which the Croatian people and its armed
forces have."
Rados called on the Croatian Army members to give their
contribution to Croatia's bids to be a modern country admitted into
world integration associations.
He stressed that the great victory in the Homeland War stood behind
the Croatian Army and added that this could offer inspiration for
the country's orientation towards peace and democracy.
The Army's headquarters chief-in-staff General Petar Stipetic
recollected that the Croatian Army had been set up from police and
grew up into a respectable military force while it conducted
military operations against the Greater Serbian aggression.
In the post-war period the HV became a small but modern armed
forces, and is now a member of the Partnership for Peace programme,
taking the path towards its accession into NATO, he added.
Croatian soldiers and officers were distinguished by their great
patriotism which helped them to defeat the cruel aggressor. The
preparedness and ability of the Croatian Army is today at such level
that the HV is the guarantee of the integrity and independence of
the Republic of Croatia and of its peace-time progress, Gen.
Stipetic said.
Present at the party were HV high-ranking officers, foreign
ambassadors and military attaches, representatives of Homeland War
veterans' associations and Croatian President Stjepan Mesic's
advisor on military issues, General Imra Agotic.
(hina) ms