BOSNIAN FEDERATION TO ORGANIZE INTEGRAL DEFENCE SYSTEM SOON

SARAJEVO, Jan 8 (Hina) - Bosnian Federation Defence Minister Ante Jelavic on Wednesday said that the defining of the Federal defence system would be completed during January. Delivering a speech at the opening of the simulation centre for training of the Federal Army's officers at Hadzici (outside Sarajevo), Jelavic said the federal partners (Bosnia's Croats and Moslems) would soon agree on the size and organization of the Defence Ministry and a joint command as well as on staff and people who would assume senior posts in the country's defence. "The size and structure of the federal defence force will depend on country's financial potentials, neighbours and on a level of trust between the two constituent peoples," he added. Jelavic underscored that training centres such as at Hadzici and Pazaric outside the Bosnian capital, would considerably contribute to strengthening the joint defence force. On the premises, which the former JNA (Yugoslav Army) used to exploit, a computer centre has been opened with the financial help of the U.S. Administration and the MPRI company which is carrying out the "Equip and Train" programme. The centre will help to educate federal officers for commanding brigades and larger units. Officers will be trained by US experts, at special computer systems, to wage campaigns under severest conditions. A retired American general, Herbert Lloyd, who oversaw activities for the establishment of the centre, said the centre had been organized on the grounds of the NATO military doctrine and it bore much resemblance to centres for training officers in the NATO member-countries. At the ceremonial opening, the commander and vice commander of the Federal armed force, Generals Rasim Delic and Zivko Budimir respectively, voiced satisfaction with efforts to strengthen the federal defence system. Gen. Budimir said a centre for combat training was to be established at Livno (southwestern Bosnia). At the Livno centre, the knowledge would be tested of the Bosnian Army's and (Bosnian Croat) HVO officers who have been trained at the Pazaric military school and the Hadzici simulation centre. (hina) mm mš 081556 MET jan 97