PROTECTION, RESCUE EXERCISE SUCCESSFUL ON THURSDAY AS WELL

BASKO POLJE, May 23 (Hina) - The civilian-military protection and rescue exercise "Taming the Dragon - Dalmatia 2002", which started on Wednesday in the area of Makarska within NATO's Partnership for Peace programme, has been proceeding as planned, officials at the Croatian Interior Ministry said on Thursday. #L# A total of 317 firemen from Croatia and seven foreign countries, assisted by 71 vehicles, and the Croatian air forces, which included one air-tractor, three helicopters and two canadairs, and one helicopter each from Bosnia and Slovenia, held simultaneous fire-fighting exercises in the areas of Sosic and Podpec. Activities demonstrated yesterday were repeated today, with emphasis on communication among units from different countries. At the same time, a difficult mountaineer search and rescue operation was carried out on Mt. Biokovo. Participating in the exercise were 90 rescuers and members of mountain rescue services from Croatia and six foreign countries. A Croatian Navy landing ship and two boats carried out a rescue operation on the sea off the coast of Baska Voda, rescuing a tourist on a yacht on fire. Two helicopters and another eight rescuers took part in the exercise. Almost one hundred reporters are covering the exercise, in which more than 2,000 participants and observers from 38 countries, 250 vehicles, six planes, eight helicopters, one navy ship and two pilotless aircraft, are taking part. The three-day exercise is the largest protection and rescue exercise ever to be held in Europe and the largest exercise in the world this year. It is part of Croatia's activities on its path to Partnership for Peace. The exercise ends tomorrow with a big manoeuvre that will integrate the exercises carried out on Wednesday and Thursday. Deputy Defence Minister Zlatko Gareljic will tonight hold a press conference in Baska Voda which NATO representatives are expected to attend. (hina) rml