NATO LOGISTICS BASE AT PLOCE TO REDUCE STRENGTH

PLOCE, Dec 17 (Hina) - The commander of NATO's logistics base in the southern Croatian Adriatic port of Ploce, Col. Yion Tallec of France, held a press conference on Tuesday in connection with the expiry of the IFOR mandate on December 20 and the beginning of the mandate of a new Stabilization Force (SFOR). The logistics base would remain in Ploce over the next 18 months but its strength would be reduced from the current 800 troops to about 600, Tallec said. He stressed very good cooperation with the Croatian army, police, town and port authorities as well as with the local population. The commander of the base would continue to be a Frenchman, while its aides would be German, Italian and Spanish officers. Moroccan troops would be in charge of security while British, Italian and for the first time three Croatian army officers would serve as liaison officers, Tallec said. (hina) vm jn 171356 MET dec 96