BELGRADE, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) commenced a four-day civil exercise of protection and rescue in the southern Zadar area of Croatia, Croatia's official HINA news agency reported Tuesday.

    The exercise, code named "Idassa 2007m," involves about 1,200participants from 44 countries. The organizers said the aim of this exercise is to improve cooperation of NATO and Partnership for Peace member countries in cases of major accidents and disasters.

    Croatia expects to join NATO in 2008. Serbia's official Tanjug news agency reported that US President George W. Bush will announce Croatian entry into NATO when traveling to Europe in June.