HEBRANG PRESENTS U.S. MILITARY ENVOY WITH DECORATION FOR CLOSE COOPERATION

COOPERATION ( Editorial: --> 8288 ) ZAGREB, July 17 (Hina) - The United States and Croatia enjoy a very good military cooperation, Croatian Defence Minister Andrija Hebrang asserted on Friday after a farewell meeting with U.S. military envoy Lt. John Sadler. "I thanked Lt. Sadler on a great contribution to the very close and fruitful cooperation between our two countries during his mandate", said Hebrang. He presented the U.S. envoy with a Prince Branimir Order decoration bestowed upon him by Croatian President Franjo Tudjman. During Sadler's mandate the Croatian army was restructured and Croatia has made many steps towards Partnership for Peace and NATO membership thanks to the envoy's personal and U.S. assistance, said Hebrang. The Croatian Defence Minister also welcomed the new U.S. military envoy Lt. J.C. Adams, who also attended today's meeting. Hebrang hoped the good cooperation between Croatia and the U.S. would continue to mutual satisfaction. One strong foundation of our bilateral relations is a positive and very close military cooperation, said the U.S. Ambassador to Croatia William Montgomery. Croatia and the U.S. share the same goals, he added. The U.S. officials were also received by Croatian army Deputy Chief Of Staff Vice-Admiral Davor Domazet. (hina) ha jn 171529 MET jul 98