Croatian MFA closely follows the development of the situation in Iraq...

Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs closely follows the development of the situation in Iraq and is in a constant contact with the diplomatic and consular representatives of Croatia in the Middle East. Croatian public has shown a great interest to learn more about the situation in Iraq and the position of Croatian citizens that are currently in the region. A special telephone line that has been opened at the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (01/482 63 81) and the Ministry's web site (www.mvp.hr), that features a special section on the Iraqi crisis, have been the centre of media's and citizens' attention these days.

The Ministry's officials are in direct contact with Croatian citizens in the Middle East and with representatives of the institutions in which they work. Yesterday, 19 March, the change of Croatian workers in Syria was carried out successfully. A Croatia Airlines plane flew a group of workers of INA, NAFTAPLIN and CROSCO from Zagreb to Damask, and the group working in Damask back to Zagreb. Croatian workers in Syria are under organised protection of Syrian authorities, and due to the nature of their work, are located in the desert outside of Damask.

The Croatian Foreign Ministry has been informed that the air traffic over Syria was normalised yesterday at 10 AM. All flights went according to schedule, except KLM's, which cancelled all its flights. Certain limitations in air traffics have been imposed today, especially on flights to Cairo, and the flights to Tel Aviv have begun to be cancelled.

All Croatia's diplomatic and consular bodies in Tel Aviv, Teheran and Cairo are fully operational, while some of the diplomatic staff and their families have been withdrawn from Israel and Iran. Croatian Embassy to Cairo is also fully operational, none of the staff have been withdrawn. To the Croatian citizens who are in those countries in which Croatia has no embassy, assistance will be provided by the representatives of friendly countries with embassies in those countries. According to agreement with those countries, assistance to Croatian citizens in Syria, Saudi Arabia and Jordan will by provided by the Austrian Embassy, and in Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE by the Bosnian Embassy.

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