THREE CROATIAN CADETS ADMITTED TO U.S. MILITARY ACADEMIES

( Editorial: --> 0184 ) ZAGREB, June 10 (Hina) - United States Ambassador to Croatia William Montgomery on Wednesday presented three Croatian cadets with certificates on their admission to three US military academies. The admission certificates were handed to Luka Brzica (West Point), Sandra Ugrina (US Naval Academy) and Luka Tomljenovic (US Air Force Academy). The three cadets were among 17 candidates from the Croatian Defence Ministry and Armed Forces who competed for admission to US military academies. This year about 2,000 candidates from 130 countries competed for 30 places at US military academies reserved for foreign cadets, Croatian Deputy Defence Minister Kresimir Cosic said. With its three cadets, like last year, Croatia is the best represented of all countries at US military academies, Cosic said adding the Croatian cadets were among the best students. Montgomery said that the chosen cadets had achieved great personal success, but their election was also the acknowledgement of Croatia's education system. Croatia has been sending its cadets to the US for three years. Nine Croatian cadets are attending US military academies currently. (hina) rml /mbr 101455 MET jun 98