He said Croatia had significantly stepped up the safety and protection of its air space through the introduction of new radar systems and the partial upgrading of MIG-21 aircraft.
Bagaric said Croatia indirectly contributed to the protection of NATO's air space through cooperation with NADC in the drafting of the air defence study and exchange of data on Croatia's air space.
He said the MIG-21 aircraft at the disposal of the Croatian Air Force would be used by 2010 and then replaced with a new type of air craft.
Asked by the press if the northern Adriatic city of Pula was likely to become a NATO base, Bagaric said the decision about that would be political. He added that personally, he thought Pula was not interesting in that respect.