US UNMANNED AIR VEHICLES IN CROATIA'S BASES

LONDON, Dec 7 (Hina) - The question whether the recent launching by the US of unmanned aerial vehicles from Croatia to 'observe' events in Bosnia was 'a bilateral matter between the US and Croatian Government', and whether it was their view that these unmanned aerial vehicles could pose no risk to NATO aircraft, including British aircraft, in operations in Bosnia under a UN SC resolution, was raised at the British Parliament's Upper House by Lord Kennet. Lord Kennet also asked whether these unmanned air vehicles were under the non-NATO command of the NATO Commander-in-Chief, Naples, and if not under whose command they were, as stated in a report from the British Embassy in Zagreb sent to Hina. Responding to the above questions Lord Henley said the operation of US air unmanned vehicles from bases in Croatia was a bilateral matter between the government concerned, adding that the airplanes were under US national command although their operations were carefully coordinated with NATO to ensure they pose no additional risk to aircraft safety. (hina) mar mms 071718 MET dec 94