SLOVAKIA's defence minister will be able to decide if aircraft that violates Slovak airspace should be shot down, according to revisions to the Slovak law on the armed forces and the Aviation Act, which the cabinet approved on September 7.
Currently, such a decision has to be made by the cabinet.
According to the proposal, an aircraft that is deemed to be a threat to the public and/or cause major damage could be shot down, assuming that that is the only way to ward off the danger.
If approved by parliament, the amendment will come into force as of November 2005.
Other measures that can be taken by the armed forces against violations of Slovakia's airspace is diverting the flight, forced landing, issuing a threat of military force and firing warning shots or warning flares, the TASR news agency reported.
Compiled by Martina Jurinová from press reports
TheSlovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the informationpresented in its Flash News postings.
