CRO FOREIGN MINISTER CONDEMNS CAR ACCIDENT CAUSED BY SFOR

ZAGREB, Jan 29 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic on Friday invited for talks the Commander of NATO's Stabilisation Force (SFOR) for Croatia, Richard Rikard, regarding a road accident in which two persons died and two were seriously wounded in Karlovac on Thursday, the Croatian Foreign Ministry reported. On behalf of Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and the Croatian Government, Granic expressed the harshest protest about the tragic accident caused by SFOR members and handed a protest note to Rikard, the statement read. Granic stressed that circumstances of the accident, as well as certain actions of which he informed Rikard, demand the harshest condemnation. The Croatian Government also demanded an investigation in closest cooperation of Croatian authorities and SFOR's authorised bodies, and proper penalties for the offenders. The Croatian Government expects the SFOR to submit a detailed report on all steps of their investigation. Granic said the accident unfortunately was not the first one which involved SFOR members, and added the Croatian Government expected SFOR to initiate comprehensive measures to prevent new incidents with tragic consequences. Rikard expressed great condolences on behalf of the SFOR, and added he shared the feelings of the Croatian public. He said the SFOR would closely co-operate with the Croatian Government, and would inform the Government of each step of the investigation. (hina) it