CROATIA TO BECOME FULL JAA MEMBER

ZAGREB, March 3 (Hina) - The Civil Aviation Department of the Croatian Ministry of the Sea, Tourism and Development will become a full member of the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) on March 16, state secretary in charge of traffic affairs Drazen Breglec said after talks with a JAA delegation on Wednesday.#L# The JAA is an associated body of the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) representing the civil aviation regulatory authorities of a number of European States who have agreed to co-operate in developing and implementing common safety regulatory standards and procedures. Croatia is expected to join the JAA at a JAA assembly to be held in Paris on March 16. JAA full membership is important for political and business reasons, Breglec said. It is important for political reasons because JAA membership is a condition for joining the EU and for business reasons because JAA membership creates numerous possibilities for Croatian air companies, service providers to cooperate with foreign air companies, Breglec said. The negotiations on Croatia's full membership of the JAA started in November 1999. Croatia became an associated member in 2001. (Hina) it