BILL CLINTON'S MESSAGE ON OCCASION OF END OF UNTAES MANDATE

( Editorial: --> 4661 ) VUKOVAR, Jan 15 (Hina) - Special envoy of the United States' President and State Secretary in charge of the implementation of the Dayton Agreement, Robert Gelbard, read a message by US President Bill Clinton at a press conference in Vukovar (eastern Croatia) on Thursday. "After six years of bitter ethnic discord, I commend the Government of Croatia and all the residents of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and western Sirmium for their cooperation with the U.N. to settle their differences peacefully and reintegrate this territory into the Republic of Croatia. By embracing the Basic Agreement, Croatia has acknowledged that is could not be whole and united unless it was also tolerant and diverse. We expect Croatia to fulfil its responsibility to guarantee equal treatment and full protection of the rights of all Croatian citizens. We trust that the ethnic Serbs of Eastern Slavonia will fulfil their responsibilities as full and equal citizens of a multi-ethnic Croatia," Clinton said in his message. "The United States is pleased to have played a role in this process. We and the international community will remain engaged in the reintegration, not only of the territory, but also of the people of Eastern Slavonia. The peace will not be complete until all of Croatia's people can return to their homes. We look to you to prove that peoples of different ethnic groups can resolve their differences and live together in peace," Clinton said. (hina) lm 151348 MET jan 98