CROATIA REJECTS INAPPROPRIATE THREATS OF SANCTIONS

( Editorial: --> 2883 ) ZAGREB, March 27 (Hina) - In response to Thursday's statement by the international community's High Representative in Bosnia- Herzegovina, Carlos Westendorp, that Croatia might face international sanctions if it did not enable Serbian refugees to return to their homes, the Croatian Foreign Ministry said on Friday that Croatia could not accept groundless criticims or inappropriate threats of sanctions. The High Representative was referring to Tuesday's incident, when Serb refugees were "deliberately thwarted" in their visit to their Vojnic homes, as Westendorp's spokeswoman put it. According to the Foreign Ministry, the Croatian authorities have investigated the incident described by Mr Westendorp. It was an isolated incident that did not reflect the views of the highest level of Croatian authorities and would not affect the commitment of the Croatian state policy, repeatedly expressed by President Tudjman and other senior officials, the statement said. In their statement, these officials have repeatedly stressed Croatia's unflagging determination to pursue the policy of establishing trust, speeding up the return of refugees and normalising life in war-affected areas of Croatia, the statement said. This is the policy that brought about the successful completion of the UNTAES mission in the Croatian Danube River region, the statement stressed. The Republic of Croatia has undertaken certain international obligations which are in accordance with Croatian interests and intends to implement these obligations in full, the statement said. This commitment is further confirmed by the fact that the Government considered measures for speeding up and facilitating two-way return at its session on Thursday, the statement stressed. The subject was further taken up in talks with Republika Srpska representatives on Friday. Croatia's commitment and consistency has been recognised by senior officials of the United States, the European Union and the Russian Federation, during recent contacts with Croatian representatives, the statement noted. All these representatives have welcomed the steps and plans that were announced during these contacts. In view of what has been said above, Croatia cannot accept criticisms that do not take into account the real situation, or inappropriate threats of sanctions, the statement emphasised. Croatia is ready to continue dialogue with the international community and its representatives, in an atmosphere of mutual trust and with the aim of resolving all political issues of mutual interest, the statement concluded. (hina) mm as/mrb 271919 MET mar 98