CROATIA AND GERMANY CONSOLIDATE MILITARY COOPERATION

( Editorial: --> 7007 ) ZAGREB, April 15 (Hina) - Croatia and Germany will strengthen their military cooperation, especially in the training of Croatian soldiers in German schools, military planning and medical corps, German Defence Minister Volker Ruehe and Croatian Deputy Defence Minister Kresimir Cosic said in Zagreb on Wednesday. Ruehe is heading a German delegation on a two-day visit to Croatia. On Wednesday, he held a working meeting with a Croatian delegation headed by Cosic. After the talks, Cosic told reporters that this meeting had opened the doors to long-term cooperation between the two countries' defence ministries. He said the two sides had confirmed mutual interest in many important issues of bilateral cooperation and strengthening of stability and peace in the region. Ruehe said this meeting meant an important and big step forward in the stabilisation of the whole region and in the development of relations between Croatia and Germany. Croatian Defence Minister Gojko Susak did not attend the talks, although it was announced he would be. (hina) lm mm 151854 MET apr 98