CRO-SLOVAK MILITARY COOPERATION HAS GREAT PROSPECTS - MINISTERS

ZAGREB, Apr 16 (Hina) - Military cooperation between Croatia and Slovakia has great prospects, particularly in manufacturing and bringing arms up-to-date with NATO standards, Croatian Deputy Defence Minister Kresimir Cosic said in Zagreb on Friday. Cosic spoke to reporters after talks with Slovak Defence Minister Pavol Kanis. "During the talks we focused on joint cooperation in producing and bringing weaponry up-to-date, which is mainly of the same origin, but calls for modernisation to be compatible with NATO standards," Cosic. Slovakia's Kanis expressed satisfaction with the United States' recent suspension of a weaponry import embargo for Croatia, and confirmed mutual Croatian-Slovak interest in cooperation in military industry. Cosic and Kanis also discussed the integration of the two countries with western European military and political organisations. Cosic pointed to the importance Slovakia's experience as member of NATO's Partnership for Peace programme had for Croatia. Croatia and Slovakia agree the Kosovo crisis should be resolved as soon as and as best as possible, according to Cosic, "not only in the region's interest, but in the interest of the wider international community as well." The two ministers emphasised countries in the region should play a more active role in the resolution of the Kosovo crisis given their better knowledge of the situation in Kosovo. Slovakia confirmed it was willing to take part in possible peace operations in Kosovo; the Slovak government has already okayed humanitarian aid for Kosovo refugees. (hina) ha jn