DEFENCE MINISTER ADDRESSES MILITARY, DIPLOMATIC CORPS

DEFENCE MINISTER ADDRESSES MILITARY, DIPLOMATIC CORPS ZAGREB, Oct 5 (Hina) - The reorganisation of Croatia's armed forces will result in a standard and stable model of organisation which is on the level of European solutions but retains specific qualities, Defence Minister Jozo Rados said on Thursday. Addressing the annual reception for the military and diplomatic corps, the minister said Croatia's armed forces were going through a demanding time, seeking a new organisation model and establishing civil and democratic control over the armed forces. He told military envoys accredited in Croatia and senior Croatian military officers that every country had to go through that process in its own specific way. He was confident good military and political relations with other countries, in which the military and diplomatic corps plays an important part, would be of great help to the reorganisation of Croatia's armed forces and Croatia's place in NATO's Partnership for Peace programme. Rados said his trip to Macedonia on Friday, to sign a military cooperation agreement, was a confirmation of good military and diplomatic cooperation. "Croatia is a factor of stability in an unstable region in which every country is a key factor of stability," he said, adding Croatia was firmly committed to building peace in Southeast Europe. "We have to look towards the future, build good relations and cooperate with neighbouring countries." (hina) ha