PRESIDENT MESIC RECEIVES CROATIA'S MOST SENIOR OFFICERS

ZAGREB, Sept 21 (Hina) - Croatian President and Commander-in-Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces, Stipe Mesic, on Thursday received a Croatian Armed Forces military delegation headed by Chief-of-Staff General Petar Stipetic. Stipetic informed Mesic about a previously held meeting of officers who discussed the current situation in the Armed Forces and established guidelines for further action. Mesic addressed Croatia's most senior officers agreeing with the need to speed up the restructuring of the Armed Forces and removing disproportion in the salaries of military officers. This primarily depends on the available budgetary resources, Mesic said, stressing the Armed Forces must oblige its fundamental function, which is the defence of the state's borders. Mesic recalled the successful defence of the country in the Homeland War through many battles, particularly the "Storm" and "Flash" operations. You have also made possible peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina, as well as Europe, because you prevented a change in state borders, which would have been portentous for Europe and the world. Warfare to protect state borders is the only justified warfare and you have realised this goal, Mesic said. Croatia has no outstanding border issues with most of its neighbouring countries, and those it has with Slovenia and Bosnia- Herzegovina will be solved on a bilateral basis, he asserted. As regards Croatia's southern border with Montenegro, Mesic applauded this country's consent that the issue of Croatia's peninsula of Prevlaka is not a territorial, but a security issue. He assessed as positive Montenegro's advocating for democratisation and the apology of its President, Mile Djukanovic, for attacks on the Dubrovnik area. As far as Serbia is concerned, it is a European and global problem, and we must be prepared for anything, as Milosevic has still not given up on the idea of a "Greater Serbia", Mesic said. Serbia is being given a chance for changes and its citizens must decide whether they wish to continue being isolated, or be included in integration processes, he said. Mesic also commented on a recent police action during which some members of the Croatian Armed Forces had been apprehend. He described the action as having being carried out professionally. Mesic asserted that the possible violation of rights must be solved by institutions of the system, as problems cannot be solved by setting ultimatums, rattling weapons, or calling for a coup d'etat. We wish to be a country of legal security which can protect every one of its citizens, Mesic stressed. He wished much success to the Croatian officers in their future work. Addressing the President on behalf of the officers, General Stipetic asserted the Croatian Armed Forces, under the leadership of the General Staff and its commander, would live up to any future tasks put before it. The meeting among senior military officers, he said, touched the issue of the restructuring of the Armed Forces, and concluded that the process needed to be accelerated so it would not negatively affect further development of the Armed Forces and its combat readiness. According to Stipetic, the meeting also focused on current issues, including certain problems, such as an increase in traffic accidents with military vehicles involved, violations of discipline, and a lack of material and technical resources. We pointed out priorities, Stipetic said, adding the officers had also tackled the issue of military education in the light of the beginning of the new school year. The military delegation consisted deputy and assistant to the chief-of-staff, commanders of Croatian Armed Forces military districts, commanders of the Croatian Navy, Croatian Airforce and Air Defence Forces. Present at the meeting with Mesic was also Defence Minister Jozo Rados. (hina) lml jn