RECEPTION ON OCCASION OF END OF UNTAES MANDATE TAKES PLACE IN N.Y.

( Editorial: --> 6882 ) WASHINGTON, Jan 24 (Hina) - The Croatian Mission at the United Nations hosted a reception in New York on Friday on occasion of the completion of the UNTAES mandate in Croatia. Present at the reception was also the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. The successful completion of the UNTAES mandate was the result of the work of many individuals from a large number of countries and Croatia wanted to commend all those who had made possible the success of the mission, Croatian Ambassador to the UN, Ivan Simonovic, said. He stressed that the peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danube river region was proof that peaceful solutions could be achieved, even to the most difficult problems. Annan described the UN Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium (UNTAES) as one of the most successful missions of the UN, and commended all those who had helped with the fulfilment of tasks of the international community in Croatia during the past few years. Annan stressed that it was the persistence of the UN and Croatia had brought to the satisfactory result of this peace operation. The United Nations believed that Croatia and its leadership would fulfil obligations they had assumed and that the OSCE mission would provide them full support in that task, Annan said, stressing that one of the key elements of the full reintegration of the residents was the respect of human rights and minority rights. Present at the reception were also representatives of member countries of the UN Security Council, countries participating in the peace operation in Croatia and UN administration's senior officials. (hina) lm 241048 MET jan 98