END OF UNTEAS MANDATE OFFICIALLY MARKED IN VUKOVAR - PART 1

( Editorial: --> 4705 ) VUKOVAR, 15 Jan (Hina) - At a ceremony marking the completion of the UNTAES mandate, held in a cinema in the Vukovar suburb of Borovo Naselje, UN Transitional Administrator William Walker presented the Croatian President's Chief Of Staff and head of the Croatian state delegation, Hrvoje Sarinic, with a memento containing a UN flag and medal. Walker said the UN flag had been a symbol of hope and safety for people in the Danube river region of eastern Croatia and represented a sign of gratitude to the Croatian Government for its support to the UNTAES. Sarinic thanked all those who participated in the process of peaceful reintegration. The head of the Croatian delegation presented Walker with a military case containing six bottles of the best Croatian wines. The original labels on the bottles were painted by Croatian painter Ivan Lackovic Croata. At the beginning of the ceremony, UNTAES spokesman Philip Arnold welcomed the guests - high state officials, UN officials, members of the diplomatic corps and Catholic and Orthodox church representatives. Arnold invited a special review of flags of the six states which participated in the mission. The review was accompanied by the United Nations anthem. UN under-secretary and special envoy of the UN Secretary-General Bernard Miyet said that the UNTAES mission had proved that the United Nations was strong enough to cope with great challenges. The mission achieved goals it had been intended to achieve, being a good example for other states of the former Yugoslavia and ensuring stability and normalisation between Croatia and Yugoslavia, Miyet said. He recalled the achievements of the UNTAES mission in the Danube river region, stressing it had been especially difficult to bring the two communities to live together after a brutal war. There had been no exodus of Serbs, Miyet said, adding they remained in the Croatian Danube river region, becoming equal citizens of Croatian society. The President's Chief Of Staff Hrvoje Sarinic welcomed the gathered on behalf of Croatian President Franjo Tudjman. He said the implementation of the peaceful reintegration of eastern Croatia required courage before one's own people who had survived the occupation, and cooperation of the Serb ethnic community who enabled the reintegration. Sarinic gave a brief outline of the occupation of eastern Croatia and of the exodus of 100,000 Croats and members of national minorities, and of the Croatian military and police operations 'Flash' and 'Storm', which toppled the so-called Republika Srpska Krajina and dispersed illusions of a Greater Serbia. Political strength based on a strong army enabled President Tudjman to make the decision on the peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danube river region with the help of the international community, said the President's Chief Of Staff. The peaceful reintegration could not have been implemented without Serb representatives who, Sarinic said, wisely realised that peace was the only way. Sarinic then recalled the achievements of the peaceful reintegration. The Croatian Government intended to reintegrate members of the Serb ethnic community in the area, he said. President Tudjman has called on members of the Serb ethnic minority to join the building of a democratic Croatian state, while the Government devised a plan for restoration of trust and normalisation of life, Sarinic said. Normalisation of living has enabled the return of displaced people, to which the region's population responded by staying and handing over their weapons, he added. In difficult conditions we achieved the best possible results, the President's Chief Of Staff said. He said the Danube river region was an example of a successful UN mission and cooperation between Croatia and the United Nations. He thanked General Klein and Ambassador Walker, as well as UNTAES members, on behalf of the Government and President Tudjman, saying they had contributed to solving the crisis in the area through hard work and understanding of its causes. Expressing support for the OSCE monitoring mission, Sarinic said Croatia had nothing to hide and that the Croatian Government had and would continue to work on restoring trust among people. He called on the international community to provide real, partner- like assistance in the reconstruction of eastern Croatia. About US$2.5 billion will be needed for the reconstruction of the area and a serious plan will have to be devised for the removal of more than two million mines from the area, he said. For the first time in seven years after achieving independence, Croatia again controls its eastern borders. A new period of internal development, the strengthening of democratic processes and inclusion into the European integration process and international courses will follow, said Sarinic. All loyal Croatian citizens will reap these fruits, he concluded. (hina) jn rm ha 151812 MET jan 98