UNHCR OFFICIALS TO BLAME FOR BORDER WAIT - CRO INTERIOR MINISTRY

( Editorial: --> 2879 ) ZAGREB, March 27 (Hina) - The Croatian Interior Ministry (MUP) has reacted to accusations Croatian police hindered a visit by Serb refugees earlier this week, blaming United Nations officials for the long wait at a border crossing. At a press conference in Sarajevo on Thursday, Office of the High Representative spokeswoman Aisling Burne had accused Croatian police of "deliberately frustrating" a visit by Croatian Serb refugees to Vojnic (60km south of Zagreb) on March 24. But a statement from the MUP public relations office said the "irregular conduct" of UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) officials was the main reason for the border delay. "The Croatian police at the Stara Gradiska border crossing acted in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Croatia and international standards, which apply to all borders and in all states," the statement said. The MUP public relations office said the "bus with 33 people of Serb nationality accompanied by a vehicle of UNHCR officials arrived at the Stara Gradiska border crossing on March 24, 1998 at 8.20am". "Passengers on the bus did not possess the documents which would have allowed their crossing of the border," the MUP statement said. "Border police officials at the Stara Gradiska border crossing did not have notification of entry into the Republic of Croatia, and on verification confirmed that no notification of entry was received by the Ministry of the Interior. "UNHCR representatives were informed of the omissions which they made in the organisation of this visit." The MUP public relations office emphasised that the "irregular conduct of UNHCR officials was the primary reason why there was a wait of many hours on the border crossing". "Five hours were needed for UNHCR officials to deliver a request for the visit to authorised institutions of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, after which the Ministry of the Interior approved entry into the Republic of Croatia," the statement continued. "In this case border passes with a time period in accordance with their request was issued, because people on the list did not have proper documentation for entry into the Republic of Croatia. "As is the case with all visits to date, an escort was guaranteed from their entry into the Republic of Croatia to their final destination. In Vojnic they made contact with their relatives and rejected an organised visit to their properties. "Following the completion of the requested one-day visit, they left the Republic of Croatia," concluded the statement from MUP's public relations office. (Hina) mm mb /as 271932 MET mar 98