UN FLAG LOWERED IN PREVLAKA, CROATIA RE-ESTABLISHES SOVEREIGNTY OVER THIS PENINSULA

PREVLAKA, Dec 15 (Hina) - The chief of the UN monitoring mission in Prevlaka, Brigadier Rodolfo Mujica, on Sunday morning officially handed over the control over Prevlaka to a representative of the Croatian government, Tomislav Vidosevic, and with this act Croatia re-established its full sovereignty over its southern-most peninsula. #L# After the UN flag was lowered, Mujica, Vidosevic and a Yugoslav representative who is an assistant of the Montenegrin foreign minister, Veselin Garcevic, signed a protocol on the transfer of control over objects, which had to date been used by UN, and over the area of the peninsula. For ten years UN Mission of Observers in Prevlaka (UNMOP) and its predecessors have ensured the stability on the area, making it possible for the agreement to be reached which guarantees permanent peace, Mujica said. He added that the UN was leaving (the area) happy and satisfied, and now they would be witnesses of the success of those who took over Prevlaka. "The treaty proves that the two parties are able to reach agreement in important political issues," said Vidosevic, who is the acting head of the Croatian government's office for relations with international institutions. Later in the day, Premier Ivica Racan is expected to tour the area and address those who gathered at today's ceremony. The completion of the UN mandate in Prevlaka and the re- establishment of Croatia's sovereignty over the area after 11 years, ensued after Croatia and Yugoslavia last Tuesday signed an agreement on a temporary regime along the southern border-line. The document was signed by Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula and his Yugoslav counterpart Goran Svilanovic, at the Konfin border crossing. (hina) ms