“U.S. asks Croatia to take Kosovo refugees”

The U.S. has reportedly asked Croatia to accommodate refugees if a "flare-up in Kosovo provokes an exodus." Zagreb-based Jutarnji List daily wrote on Thursday the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Daniel P. Fata had broached the issue with a Croatian military delegation in Washington in September. “U.S. asks Croatia to take Kosovo refugees” He asked if Zagreb was ready to "protect NATO's borders" in the event of a refugee crisis, and “keep refugees out of NATO and European Union territory.” Croatia's near neighbors Italy, Slovenia and Hungary are NATO and EU members. Croatia is expected to join NATO next year and the EU some time later. "The delegation gave a positive answer, saying Croatia already had experience with housing refugees," the daily said, citing unnamed Croatian sources. "Croatia is expected to monitor its borders and prevent refugees from crossing into the EU." Reuters reports that Croatian officials were not immediately available for comment while U.S. officials in Zagreb declined to speak to the agency on the subject.

“U.S. asks Croatia to take Kosovo refugees”

He asked if Zagreb was ready to "protect NATO's borders" in the event of a refugee crisis, and “keep refugees out of NATO and European Union territory.”

Croatia's near neighbors Italy, Slovenia and Hungary are NATO and EU members. Croatia is expected to join NATO next year and the EU some time later.

"The delegation gave a positive answer, saying Croatia already had experience with housing refugees," the daily said, citing unnamed Croatian sources. "Croatia is expected to monitor its borders and prevent refugees from crossing into the EU."

Reuters reports that Croatian officials were not immediately available for comment while U.S. officials in Zagreb declined to speak to the agency on the subject.