PRESIDENT MESIC HOLDS TALKS WITH BRITISH DEFENCE SECRETARY

ZAGREB, Nov 28 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic on Tuesday received the British Defence Secretary, Geoffrey Hoon, and spoke about the adjustment of the Croatian armed forces to the standards of NATO, the President's Office said in a statement. "President Mesic spoke about the need of adjusting the Croatian Armed Forces to the standards of NATO, and warned about financial restrictions Croatia was facing in the realisation of the task," the statement said. Speaking about Bosnia-Herzegovina, Mesic reiterated the need for merging military components and the establishment of a unified chain of command and one finance source, the Office said. "President Mesic and Secretary Hoon agreed that the recent changes in Serbia presented significant progress in the way of democracy. Hoon expressed understanding for the stance of the Croatian side according to which the reinstatement of (former Yugoslav President) Slobodan Milosevic on the political scene was potentially dangerous," the statement reads. "Milosevic is an indicted war criminal and we recognise this fact," the statement relayed Hoon's words. Mesic accepted the British suggestion that members of the Croatian army be included in the peace mission in Cyprus, the statement said. (hina) lml jn