CROATIA & UKRAINE TO COOPERATE IN ARMS MODERNISATION

( Editorial: --> 3606 ) ZAGREB, May 13 (Hina) - Croatia and the Ukraine will soon establish cooperation in the repair, modernisation and research of the rocket system, Croatian Deputy Defence Minister Lt. Gen. Kresimir Cosic said Wednesday. Cosic and Croatian Army Chief-of-Staff Lt Gen Pavao Miljavac today received a delegation of the Ukrainian army headquarters headed by Miljavac's counterpart General Oleksander Zatinaiko. Talks focused on possibilities for military and technical cooperation. "We have defined concrete projects which can represent a common interest and we believe that we will come to concrete implementation agreements very soon," Cosic told reporters after the talks. Croatia and the Ukraine plan to cooperate in the repair and modernisation of helicopters and planes, the modernisation of the T-55 tank, and joint research of anti-armoured vehicle and anti- aircraft rocket systems. "This meeting is the continuation of good military cooperation based on an agreement signed two years ago," Cosic said. Talks also touched on security and arms control in the region. According to Miljavac, Croatia and the Ukraine are considering cooperation in military education and training. After the talks, the Ukrainian delegation laid wreaths at the Altar of the Homeland and at the grave of Croatia's late Defence Minister Gojko Susak. (hina) ha /mrb 131617 MET may 98