BRIEF NEWS BULLETIN IN ENGLISH NO. 4876 HINA Zagreb, 26 February 2003

HR-POLITICS BRIEF NEWS BULLETIN IN ENGLISH NO. 4876 HINA Zagreb, 26 February 2003 GOVERNMENT ALLOWS U.S. TO USE CROATIA'S AIR SPACEZAGREB, Feb 26 (Hina) - The Croatian government on Wednesday decided to allow the United States to use Croatia's air space and fuel supply for civilian cargo aircraft in case of a war in Iraq. The government said that abiding by Croatia's orientation towards the prevention of international terrorism and proliferation of weapons for mass destruction, it decided to, within its possibilities, take a positive stand on requests of the United States from the so-called non-paper. The government also established a task force in charge of the implementation of the decision. The task force comprises representatives of the ministries of defence, transport and communications, foreign affairs and interior affairs and the Croatian air navigation control. The government will inform parliament of its decision which becomes effective immediately.US TO USE COMMERCIAL AIRCRAF