ANNAN PROPOSES EXTENSION TO PREVLAKA OBSERVERS MANDATE

( Editorial: --> 4574 ) WASHINGTON, June 30 (Hina) - United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has called on Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) to use a Croatian proposal as a catalyst for talks on finally resolving the Prevlaka dispute. Annan made the renewed plea in a report to the UN Security Council which proposes the UN Mission of Observers in Prevlaka (UNMOP) mandate be extended for another six months on Croatia's far southern peninsula, which borders Montenegro in the FRY. Croatia has proposed a continuous demilitarisation of the Prevlaka peninsula and neighbouring territory within the FRY, but Belgrade has failed to officially respond to the proposal and hinted it will continue treating Prevlaka as a territorial issue even though the Security Council has confirmed the peninsula belongs to Croatia. "It is to be hoped that this proposal will provide a much-needed impetus for the start of negotiations, and I urge Croatia and the FRY to engage in substantive talks towards the resolution of the dispute," Annan said in his report released on Monday in New York. "Meanwhile, since UNMOP plays an essential role in maintaining conditions conducive to negotiations, I recommend a further six- month extension of the UNMOP mandate until 15 January 1999." By this date the UN Security Council would have to decide on the future of the operation involving 28 military observers. Annan said the situation in Prevlaka "has remained stable, despite the continuation of some long-standing violations of the demilitarisation regime, including restrictions of movement for the UN military observers and the presence of military elements". The UNMOP areas of responsibility are divided into a "demilitarised zone" and a "United Nations-controlled zone". "The continuing presence of Yugoslav Army troops in the north- western part of the demilitarised zone is the most significant long-standing violation in that area," he said. "UNMOP assesses that the Yugoslav Army presence consists of approximately 130 to 150 personnel, but it is unable to ascertain the exact strength and armament of the troops because of restrictions of movement imposed by the Yugoslav authorities in the northern part of the demilitarised zone." Other violations in the UN-controlled area cited include the ongoing presence of 25 to 30 Croatian special police and about six Yugoslav (Montenegrin) border police. Also Croatian and Yugoslav fishing boats were entering Croatian territorial waters under UN control as well as the occasional Croatian police boat. "Further, the Croatian authorities continue to grant civilians unauthorised access to the UN-controlled zone, close to the Prevlaka compound. The civilian presence grows appreciably during the summer months," the report said. "(All) these violations do not threaten stability in the UNMOP area of responsibility, however, together with the continuing differences on the exact delimitation of the two UN-designated zones, they constitute a constant irritant in the relations between UNMOP and the local authorities, which should be halted." Annan adds that some movements had been made in the observance of the demilitarisation regime. The Yugoslav side had partially lifted restrictions on the movement of UNMOP patrols but the observers still had to be accompanied by a Yugoslav Army liaison officer. Croatia continued to deny UNMOP routine access to positions in the northern and several positions in the southern parts of the demilitarised zone, the report said. The UN Secretary-General called on both sides to continue with the demining efforts in limited areas inside the UN-controlled zone. (Hina) mbr jn 301254 MET jun 98