NEW YORK, June 25 (Hina) - In resolving the security issue of its southern-most peninsula of Prevlaka, on the border with Montenegro, Croatia believes it is necessary to continue strengthening stability and trust through unimpeded
civilian movement throughout the area, including the area under UN observance. This proposal is presented in a letter sent on Friday by Croatia's Permanent Representative in the United Nations, Ivan Simonovic, to the President of the U.N. Security Council, Gambia's Ambassador Baboucarr Jagne. The reason for Simonovic's letter is the upcoming discussion of the Council on the mandate of U.N. Military Observers on Prevlaka (UNMOP) and a report by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the situation along the Croatian-Montenegrin border. Simonovic reminds in his letter that over the past six months Croatia had opened the border crossings of Debeli Brijeg and Konfi
NEW YORK, June 25 (Hina) - In resolving the security issue of its
southern-most peninsula of Prevlaka, on the border with
Montenegro, Croatia believes it is necessary to continue
strengthening stability and trust through unimpeded civilian
movement throughout the area, including the area under UN
observance.
This proposal is presented in a letter sent on Friday by Croatia's
Permanent Representative in the United Nations, Ivan Simonovic, to
the President of the U.N. Security Council, Gambia's Ambassador
Baboucarr Jagne.
The reason for Simonovic's letter is the upcoming discussion of the
Council on the mandate of U.N. Military Observers on Prevlaka
(UNMOP) and a report by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the
situation along the Croatian-Montenegrin border.
Simonovic reminds in his letter that over the past six months
Croatia had opened the border crossings of Debeli Brijeg and Konfin
in agreement with Montenegro, which enabled the movement of
population from both sides of the border and proved to be a
contribution to the process of confidence-building.
"Croatia is resolved to continue to negotiate a permanent solution
for the security issue of Prevlaka with all those who have a direct
interest in the stability and economic prosperity of the immediate
area of Prevlaka", said Simonovic.
However, he warned that since mid-March the Belgrade authorities
had refused to continue bilateral negotiations until NATO ceased
its operations.
According to Simonovic, the Yugoslav authorities have proclaimed
the security issue of Prevlaka a territorial dispute, which bears
witness of Yugoslavia's territorial pretension towards Croatia's
state territory, confirmed in a recent letter of the Yugoslav Prime
Minister Momir Bulatovic to the U.N. Security Council.
"Croatia cannot and shall not tolerate any pretension towards its
territory, but remains prepared and willing to negotiate
demilitarisation of the Prevlaka area, as well as demilitarisation
at sea", the Croatian official said.
(hina) jn rml