TUDJMAN PRESENTS GRATITUDE CHARTERS TO INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS (2)

( Editorial: --> 5079 ) ZAGREB, Jan 16 (Hina) - Thanking President Tudjman for the award to the United Nations, the Charter of Gratitude, special envoy of the UN Secretary-General, Bernard Miyet, said that members of the UNTAES had decisively and in a principled manner facilitated the peaceful reintegration. He added that it was a model for the future which was based on mutual respect and coexistence of groups and nations. In achieving this goal, the UNTAES had successfully completed a whole line of activities. It was now up to the people of Croatia and the Republic of Croatia to devote themselves to the peaceful reintegration and the reconciliation of the whole population, Miyet said. This reconciliation of the people would not be easy nor momentary, there were a lot of dangers and would always demand the good will of everyone concerned, Miyet said, adding that this was the focal, crucial condition of permanent peace. Miyet stressed that the UN and the people of eastern Slavonia were indebted to Jacques Klein and William Walker, and thanked all countries whose soldiers had been willing to put their lives on the line for peace in eastern Slavonia. He especially commended President Tudjman and the local Serb leaders. Transitional Administrator William Walker addressed the gathering stressing that the successful completion of the peaceful reintegration had in large part been achieved thanks to the leadership and stance of the Croatian President. Of the members of the local Serb community, Walker pointed out Vojislav Stanimirovic, Milos Vojnovic, General Loncar and Petar Djukic, stressing that today's celebration would lose its meaning if their choice of progress diminished and if the two-way return was not achieved in dignity and reconciliation. The work on the reintegration had not yet ended. Agreements signed by the UN and the Croatian government, especially the Basic Agreement, had been guaranteed by international law and had permanent validity, Miyet said, adding that responsibility for the future now lay in the hands of the Croatian government. The co-chairman of the Peace Conference on the Former Yugoslavia, Thorvald Stoltenberg, said if in the future we achieve peace, coexistence and a normal situation, we are convinced that yesterday's process will become a model not only for the region of former Yugoslavia, but wider for Europe and the whole world. At the end of the ceremony, Croatian Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa said: "Mr. President, when you reached the historic decision, heading the Croatian state leadership, on the peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danubian area, many did not understand, did not believe, and some hoped that 15 January 1998 would never arrive." On behalf of the Croatian government, Matesa thanked all those in the international community who had contributed to the successful completion of the peaceful reintegration process. He also commended all Serb community leaders who had recognised the historical opportunity for reconciliation and coexistence. (hina) lm mm 162154 MET jan 98