NEW YORK, April 14 (Hina) - Twenty-seven United Nations military observers should remain on Croatia's southernmost peninsula Prevlaka, UN Secretary-General said in his regular biannual report to the UN Security Council about the UN
Mission of Observers in Prevlaka (UNMOP).
NEW YORK, April 14 (Hina) - Twenty-seven United Nations military
observers should remain on Croatia's southernmost peninsula
Prevlaka, UN Secretary-General said in his regular biannual report
to the UN Security Council about the UN Mission of Observers in
Prevlaka (UNMOP). #L#
In a fairly brief report Annan described the situation on Prevlaka
as "stable and calm".
There has been no violation of the demilitarised zone. Monitors
enjoy unrestricted freedom of movement, but Croatian authorities
"continue to require UNMOP to provide advance written notice before
undertaking foot or vehicle patrols in the northern part of the
zone", Annan said.
"The Croatian and Yugoslav (Montenegrin) crossing point at Debeli
Brijeg remains open on a 24-hour basis, allowing the movement of
civilians and commercial traffic" between the two countries, the
report states.
Annan criticised the fact that Croatia and Yugoslavia had not
drafted comprehensive programmes of mine clearance in the UN-
monitored area.
"No talks have been held (since March 9, 1999) as Croatia has not
extended to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia an invitation to
attend a fifth round" of talks about a permanent solution to
outstanding issues.
Annan recalled that the Security Council members had recently
received letters in which the Croatian and Yugoslav governments
expressed their views, and added they "reflect substantially
divergent views on the way ahead".
The UN Secretary-General offered UNMOP's mediating services, but
called on Security Council member-countries to, if they wish to do
so, assist the continuation of negotiations and strengthening of
mutual trust.
The Prevlaka peninsula is within Croatia's internationally
recognised borders. Yugoslavia has territorial pretensions, but
Croatia is not consenting to a change in borders and is offering
solutions in the form of permanent demilitarisation of the region,
with which Yugoslavia does not agree.
The "substantially divergent views", as mentioned by Annan, are
indicated in defining the problem -- for Yugoslavia Prevlaka is a
"territorial dispute", while Croatia deems it a security issue.
(hina) lml jn