The decision, which required a two-thirds majority or 102 votes, was adopted with 103 votes in favour, one against and four abstentions.
By August 2006 the Croatian contingent in Afghanistan will number about 150 troops. Fifty military police have been in that Asian country for the past two years, rotating on a six-month basis.
Four medical officers will depart for Afghanistan already this August. In February 2006, they will be joined by an 83-strong infantry company, along with a dozen logistics support officers and two or three military experts. The number of staff officers will also be increased.
The Government is required to report to Parliament on the state of the Croatian soldiers in Afghanistan every six months.
Parliament, however, failed to adopt a decision on the participation of Croatian troops in international military exercises in Albania, Ukraine and Georgia. The decision was supported by 101 deputies, one short of the required two-thirds majority.