COURSE ON DEFENCE BUDGET ADMINISTRATION ENDS

( Editorial: --> 3112 ) ZAGREB, Sept 25 (Hina) - "This is a significant moment as it ends a cycle of training with regard to changing our working methods, but most of all, our way of thinking", Croatian Defence Minister Andrija Hebrang said closing the seminar "Administration of Defence Resources II", in Zagreb on Friday. The seminar, held over the past two weeks, guested American experts and professors. Participating in the seminar were about forty representatives from the Croatian Army, Croatian Defence Ministry, State Audit Office and the Finance Ministry. The seminar dealt with training with regard to defence budget resources. Administration of such large financial resources requires constant training and similar training programmes will be organised in the future, said Hebrang. Planning and budget administration in the Croatian defence system need to be rationalised and strong analysis control introduced involving a series of changes to the system which is, unfortunately, still quite inert", Hebrang said. The system needs to transform from war time to peace time and some people find it difficult to adapt to rapid changes, he added. History has shown that the downfall of governments and civilisations depended on their use of resources and Croatia is no exception, said US Ambassador to Croatia William Montgomery, who also attended the closing ceremony. Hebrang and Montgomery presented participants of the course with diplomas. (Hina) sp/rml 252038 MET sep 98