MESIC DECIDES TO RETIRE SEVEN ACTIVE ARMY GENERALS

ZAGREB, Sept 29 (Hina) - Croatia's President and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Stipe Mesic on Friday decided to retire seven active army generals, the president's Office said in a statement, adding the decision was effective as of today. The retired generals include Lieutenant General Ante Gotovina, Lt.Gen.Kresimir Cosic, Major General Damir Krsticevic, Major Gen.Ivan Kapular, Major Gen. Milenko Filipovic, Admiral Davor Domazet-Loso, and Major Gen. Mirko Norac-Keva. The statement said the decision was made on the basis of the Constitution, the law on service in the armed forces, and the law on pension scheme rights of active military officers and authorised official persons. The seven retired generals were among the 12 signatories of an open letter addressed the public yesterday in which they called on putting an end to the criminalisation of Croatia's early 1990s Homeland Defence War.