NEW YORK, July 7 (Hina) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has suggested the extension of the mandate of the U.N. military observer mission on Croatia's southermost peninsula of Prevlaka, which borders with the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia.
NEW YORK, July 7 (Hina) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has
suggested the extension of the mandate of the U.N. military
observer mission on Croatia's southermost peninsula of Prevlaka,
which borders with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. #L#
In a report submitted to the U.N. Security Council on Friday, Annan
assessed the situation on Prevlaka as peaceful and stable. However,
due to the political situation in Serbia, prospects for successful
talks between Zagreb and Belgrade on a permanent solution to open
questions are poor and Annan suggests that the mandate of UN
military observers be extended until January 15 next year.
Commenting on this, Croatia's permanent representative at the
U.N., Ivan Simonovic, said that Croatia has increased contacts with
Montenegro exactly due to the situation in Serbia and the refusal of
Belgrade authorities to recognise the internationally recognised
borders.
Simonovic recalled a recent meeting between Croatian President
Stipe Mesic and Montenegro's Milo Djukanovic in Cavtat and a joint
statement by Croatia's Foreign Minister Tonino Picula and his
Montenegrin counterpart Branko Lukovac, supporting the resolution
of the Prevlaka issue through demilitarisation, along with the
civilian use of the area and open border crossings of Konfin and
Debeli Brijeg.
Regarding tensions in Yugoslavia and taking into consideration the
tourist season and the opened constructive dialogue with
Montenegro, Croatia will not oppose the extension of the UNMOP
mandate for six months, Simonovic said.
Simonovic hopes that the Security Council, which should decide
about the extension of the UNMOP mandate at the end of next week,
will support the atmosphere of constructive dialogue which has
started between Croatia and Montenegro.
(hina) jn rml