CROATIA AND TURKEY SIGN MILITARY COOPERATION AGREEMENT

ZAGREB, Aug 23 (Hina) - Croatia and Turkey on Friday signed an agreement on cooperation in the area of military training and education. The agreement envisages visits to military units, sending of observers to military exercises and education at military academies and colleges. Croatian Army Chief of Staff General Zvonimir Cervenko, who signed the agreement on behalf of the Croatian Defence Ministry, stressed the importance of the opporunity for members of the Croatian Army to be educated in Turkey. Cervenko said that Turkey was an important member of NATO which could help Croatia in its preparations to join European defence associations. He announced that a group of Croatian officers would leave for Turkey within one month's time and that a number of new protocols on military cooperation were expected to be signed soon. The Deputy Chief of Staff of the Turkish armed forces, General Cevik Birk, who headed the Turkish military delegation to Zagreb, expressed satisfaction with the signing of the agreement, adding that he hoped that it would contribute to peace in the region. (hina) vm 231604 MET aug 96