CONDITIONS FOR MILITARY EXCERCISE IN CROATIA GREAT - U.S. VICE ADMIRAL

ZAGREB, Nov 13 (Hina) - Cooperation and conditions for a joint Croatian-American military manoeuvre which the Croatian Armed Forces had provided for the United States marines were incredible, the commander of the United States 6th Fleet, vice admiral Gregory Johnson, said in Zagreb Monday after talks with the head of the Croatian Armed Forces Main Staff, general Petar Stipetic. A two-week American-Croatian military manoeuvre, called "Slunj 2000", is being held in Croatia between November 10 and 24. The meeting with the United States 6th Fleet is the result of a successful cooperation between the two countries' armed forces in carrying out joint obligations within the Partnership for Peace and bilateral relations between Croatia and the United States, general Stipetic said. "We hope that cooperation with the 6th Fleet will be lifted to a higher level in the future, and we are jointly planning numerous activities in the training of our forces", Stipetic added and stressed that vice admiral Johnson, as well as his predecessor Murphy, promised full support and cooperation of the United States Armed Forces in the modernisation of the Croatian Armed Forces. (hina) it jn