TUDJMAN'S OFFICE REFUTES REPORTS ON REPLACEMENTS IN MINISTRIES

( Editorial: --> 2439 ) ZAGREB, Sept 23 (Hina) - The Croatian President's Office on Wednesday refuted the truthfulness of some media reports in relation with the replacements of several Croatian army generals and high-ranking Defence Ministry and Interior Ministry officials. The President's Office said the articles were "false and ill- intentioned reports on the replacements of generals who were sent to the Ban Josip Jelacic War School, on the replacements of certain high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Defence, and announcements on the introduction of special supervision of Ministry of Defence business by the Ministry of Finance." The Office recalled in the statement that the Ban Josip Jelacic War School was established as the highest Croatian army school under a decision of the President of the Republic and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Franjo Tudjman. Under the President's decision, the first generation would include high-ranking officers and generals who have made a great personal contribution to the Homeland War and the peace-time building of the armed force. The President's Office also stated that the reports on the replacement of Interior Minister Ivan Penic were completely unfounded. Minister Penic enjoys the Croatian President's full confidence and the reports on his replacement are therefore completely untruthful, said the statement. "The aim of all these and similar false reports is to cause unrest in the Ministries of Defence and of the Interior, and among the wide public, as well as the destabilisation of the key constituents of national and state security", the President's Office said. Defence Minister Andrija Hebrang on Wednesday also denied the reports on the replacements at the Defence Ministry. "There have been no replacements", he said in answer to reporters during a break of today's parliament session. Hebrang recalled the Defence Minister neither appoints nor replaces Croatian army generals, as this is the duty of the Supreme Commander of the army and President of the Republic. The war school will begin later in the year and a decision on who will attend may be expected in the next few days, Hebrang said. Asked when the names of the officers who would undergo additional professional training would be known, Hebrang could not say, explaining it was a decision of the President of Republic. A whole series of reports on the Defence Ministry have appeared lately, Hebrang said, adding he had expected them given that the Ministry was undergoing reorganisation from war to peace-time. Many will not like the things happening as part of that process, and speculation, such as this on the replacement of generals, will occur, he concluded. (hina) ha jn 231615 MET sep 98