ZAGREB, April 10 (Hina) - If Croatia wants to join NATO, it is only logical that it should change the Maritime Code to incorporate a regulation granting foreign war ships carrying nuclear weapons the right to enter the Adriatic Sea,
said Roland Zuvanic, Croatia's Minister of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Communications.
ZAGREB, April 10 (Hina) - If Croatia wants to join NATO, it is only
logical that it should change the Maritime Code to incorporate a
regulation granting foreign war ships carrying nuclear weapons the
right to enter the Adriatic Sea, said Roland Zuvanic, Croatia's
Minister of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Communications. #L#
The Croatian government on Thursday adopted a bill on changes to the
Maritime Code and sent it into the first parliamentary reading.
The bill enables foreign war ships carrying nuclear weapons to
enter and stay in Croatia's ports.
Zuvanic says that such ships are allowed to enter the territorial
waters of other tourist countries, such as Italy, Greece, Spain and
Turkey, abiding by certain control mechanisms. There is no reason
for Croatia not to allow this as well, he said.
Under the bill, to enter Croatia's territorial waters foreign war
ships carrying nuclear weapons must obtain the approval of the
Croatian Defence Ministry and submit on time a certified copy of a
document proving the ship's safety as well as an insurance
certificate or some other financial guarantee.
Asked whether Croatia had decided to regulate this issue of its own
accord or had received a request for granting entry to such war
ships, Zuvanic said this was a logical decision considering the
country's wish to join the alliance and agreements signed so far.
Zuvanic would not comment on possible decisions to be made by the
parliament regarding the bill, stating only that agreement was
necessary if the country was to meet international standards,
which, he said, required certain concessions.
(hina) rml