DEFENCE MINISTRY STAGES RECEPTION FOR MILITARY-DIPLOMATIC CORPS

ZAGREB, Dec 17 (Hina) - The Croatian Ministry of Defence on Friday staged a reception for the members of the military and diplomatic corps in Croatia on the occasion of the impending Christmas holidays. Addressing the foreign military representatives accredited in Croatia, Croatian Deputy Defence Minister Kresimir Cosic thanked them for cooperation during the year, and wished them the best for the Christmas holidays. Commenting on the January 3 parliamentary elections, Cosic reiterated the "army as a whole, and each individual member of the Croatian Army understands their constitutional role." "I see no reason for doubting that some individuals might jump out of that line. The elections will be democratic and fair," asserted Cosic. The Defence Ministry's strategic goals for next year remain unchanged, namely to join NATO and its Partnership for Peace programme. "In the past years, the armed force of the Republic of Croatia has done everything to meet NATO and Partnership for Peace standards, and we believe we have been successful," he said. Military and diplomatic corps doyen, Slovene military envoy to Croatia Brigadier Zlatko Vehovar, thanked on behalf of the corps the top officials at the Croatian Defence Ministry for cooperation during the year, and expressed hope the cooperation would continue to be good. Cosic said it could be expected that next year's budget earmarking for the Defence Ministry would be reduced, but emphasised that would not affect the Croatian Army's military ability. "We believe Croatia's security environment makes fund reduction possible, we believe that the top officials at the Ministry of Defence and the Croatian Army will know how to use lower funds without lowering the Croatian Army's combat readiness," Cosic said. (hina) ha mm