MANDATE OF UN OBSERVERS IN PREVLAKA PROLONGED UNTIL 15 JANUARY

NEW YORK, July 11 (Hina) - The United Nations' Security Council on Wednesday unanimously decided to prolong the mandate of UN Mission of Observers in Prevlaka (UNMOP) until 15 January 2002. According to a resolution the UNSC adopted on the matter, the Council urges Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) "to continue their talks with the aim of fulfilling rapidly and in good faith their commitment to a negotiated resolution on the disputed issue of Prevlaka in accordance with (...) the Agreement on Normalisation of Relations." It requests Zagreb and Belgrade to continue to report at least bi- monthly to Secretary General on the development of their bilateral negotiations. The resolution confirms once again "the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Croatia within its internationally recognised borders." In comparison to the previous resolution on this matter (adopted in January), the latest document contains a small but significant difference. So far Secretary-General Kofi Annan has been asked to submit a report on the situation in Prevlaka (the southernmost Croatian area) every three months, but as of now he should inform the Security Council of the situation "where appropriate." Diplomats see this as a sign that the negotiations between Zagreb and Belgrade are likely to bring a final solution to this issue after a two-and-half-year long break and after the 10-year-long presence of international observers on this peninsula. (hina) ms