Croatia reintroduces compulsory military service after 17 years

By Ilayda Cakirtekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - Croatia's Defense Ministry announced Friday it will reintroduce compulsory military service.

"In line with European trends and changed security circumstances, increasingly frequent natural disasters and crisis situations, Croatia is re-introducing basic military training," it wrote in a statement.

It noted it has been 17 years since the abolition of compulsory military service, stressing that nearly 300,000 people, have not received any military training during that period.

The ministry said it plans to call up to 4,000 recruits annually.

The announcement came after parliament decided earlier in the day, by a majority of MPs, to restore mandatory military service for two months, according to the RTS broadcaster.