ZAGREB, Aug 30 (Hina) - By year's end Croatia will apply for full-right membership in NATO, Croatia's Defence Minister Jozo Rados said on Wednesday after talking to NATO chief commander for Europe, General Joseph Ralston.
ZAGREB, Aug 30 (Hina) - By year's end Croatia will apply for full-
right membership in NATO, Croatia's Defence Minister Jozo Rados
said on Wednesday after talking to NATO chief commander for Europe,
General Joseph Ralston.#L#
Minister Rados said General Ralston was briefed about the
reorganisation of the Croatian armed forces and defence ministry,
Croatia's contribution to stability in this part of Southeast
Europe, and endeavours to intensify cooperation with neighbouring
countries and NATO.
In this sense, we have been given General Ralston's full support,
said the defence minister.
He added the NATO official was also acquainted with the estimates of
the political and military situation in the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia.
In a brief statement to the press, General Ralston said he and Rados
had a very good conversation today, and that he was glad to be the
first NATO Europe commander to visit Croatia since it joined NATO's
Partnership for Peace programme.
Ralston added he and Minister Rados also discussed efforts made in
the reorganisation of the Croatian armed forces, and issues in
connection with regional stability due to the need of maintaining
it in this part of Europe.
(hina) ha jn