SYMPOSIUM "ARMED FORCES AND SOCIETY" ENDS

( Editorial: --> 9974 ) ZAGREB, June 9 (Hina) - The international two-day symposium "Armed Forces and Society" ended in Zagreb on Tuesday. Military and civil experts from Germany and the United States spoke about civilian army control in democratic societies and the role of European reservists' associations. The event was organised by the Croatian Officers' Corps, Defence Ministry, Croatian State Oath Foundation and the German foundation "Hans Seidel". Commanding the reserve system was one of the main factors in the Homeland war victory, said Staff Brigadier Marinko Kresic, head of the Defence Ministry Personnel Administration. W.D. Skodowski spoke about the importance of reservists in Germany while F.X. Foster spoke about the German Reservists' Association. Lieutenant Stephen Cochrane presented the organisation of the US system of reserve officers. The president of the Croatian Officers Corps, Maj. Gen. Velibor Kikerec stressed the importance of reservists' associations in modern defence systems. Speaking about the Central European officers' association "Gaminger Initiative", reserve Brigadier Tomislav Jantol said it was based on democratic principles and gathered officers from Central European states, including Croatia. Closing the symposium, Brigadier Jantol described it as successful. (hina) rml 091623 MET jun 98