SPLIT, Sept 21 (Hina) - A five-day military exercise of the Croatian and the U.S. armed forces, which starts on 25 September, is a great step forward in the promotion of the military cooperation between Zagreb and Washington and it
has nothing to do with elections in neighbouring Yugoslavia (Serbia/Montenegro), said U.S. Navy's attach? in Zagreb, Paul Smith, and Bill Crow, the commander of the war ship Austin, at a news conference they held in the Croatian central coastal city of Split on Thursday. Plans for this exercise were done five months ago and its purpose is primarily to further the military cooperation between Croatia and the United Sates. Ground, air and naval troops have earlier conducted shows so that this exercise is just an occasion for us to show our abilities, Paul Smith told reporters aboard the USS Austin. Present at the news conference were also high-ranking officers of the Croati
SPLIT, Sept 21 (Hina) - A five-day military exercise of the Croatian
and the U.S. armed forces, which starts on 25 September, is a great
step forward in the promotion of the military cooperation between
Zagreb and Washington and it has nothing to do with elections in
neighbouring Yugoslavia (Serbia/Montenegro), said U.S. Navy's
attach? in Zagreb, Paul Smith, and Bill Crow, the commander of the
war ship Austin, at a news conference they held in the Croatian
central coastal city of Split on Thursday.
Plans for this exercise were done five months ago and its purpose is
primarily to further the military cooperation between Croatia and
the United Sates. Ground, air and naval troops have earlier
conducted shows so that this exercise is just an occasion for us to
show our abilities, Paul Smith told reporters aboard the USS
Austin.
Present at the news conference were also high-ranking officers of
the Croatian Navy, Army's Fourth Guards Brigade and Air Force, who
will together with the US Sixth Fleet marines, participate in this
event that takes part on the archipelago and parts of Sibenik-Knin
and Split-Dalmatia counties.
According to marines' commander Lieutenant Colonel Paul Biygider,
this exercise will be carried out by some 1000 members of Croatia's
and U.S. armed forces. The central objective of the exercise is a
simulated attack on the island of Zirje (the Sibenik archipelago).
About 300 members of the Croatian Navy, Air Force and the fourth
Guard Brigade will take part in the show.
The event commences with the muster of Croatian ground troops in the
port of Split. They will leave Split for Kukuzovac near Sinj (the
Split hinterland) from where the 4th brigade troops will depart for
the sea where USS Austin and a Croatian Navy landing ship will wait
for them.
(hina) jn ms