ANNAN PROPOSES THAT UN MANDATE ON PREVLAKA BE EXTENDED

( Editorial: --> 2513 ) WASHINGTON, 5 Jan (Hina) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan proposed Monday that the mandate of UN military observers on the southernmost Croatian peninsula of Prevlaka, on the Croatian- Yugoslav border, be extended for another six months, until 15 July 1998. The current UNMOP mandate expires on 15 January. In a report to the UN Security Council, published in New York, Annan said that the situation in the area was still stable and that the number of violations of demilitarisation regime was decreasing. The most serious of those violations was the presence of Yugoslav forces in the north-western part of the demilitarisation zone, Annan said. Annan called on Croatia and Yugoslavia to start meaningful talks on solving the dispute concerning Prevlaka. Next week, the Security Council is expected to adopt a resolution accepting Annan's proposal on the extension of the mandate of 28 UN observers on Prevlaka. (hina) jn rm 052222 MET jan 98