DEFENCE MINISTER: GOVT DIDN'T ALLOW ARRIVAL OF FOREIGN TROOPS

ZAGREB, March 11 (Hina) - The Croatian government's approval for American civilian transport aircraft to use Croatia's air space in the case of war against Iraq excludes any possibility of the arrival of foreign troops on Croatian soil. Only the parliament has the authority to make such a decision, said Defence Minister Zeljka Antunovic on Tuesday. #L# Antunovic convened a news conference today to respond to an article issued on Tuesday by the "Nacional" weekly, which implied that the government "silently" allowed the landing of American soldiers at certain Croatian airports, even their brief stay in "nearby motels". Information about allowing American soldiers to stay on Croatian territory "is fabricated and incorrect", the minister said. "The (government) decision excludes any possibility of the arrival of foreign troops at Croatian territory, about which only the parliament can make a decision, if Croatia is ever asked to make this possible," Antunovic said. She rebutted that the weekly possessed a document which makes operational the government decision of February 26, because it was a paper, a working material which did not have the label of military secret. This is just one of many "analytical simulations of possible requests" by the United States which the government used in the decision-making process, said the minister. She stressed that most claims in the weekly's article were arbitrary improvisations "by either ignorant or malicious sources", which is why an investigation is being conducted to establish facts which might connect these sources with some sources in the defence ministry. "We will not ignore this", Antunovic said, pledging that the public would be informed in detail about this as soon as conditions allow. (hina) lml sb