SECURITY COUNCIL SATISFIED WITH E. CROATIAN MANDATE SUCCESS

NEW YORK, Nov 7 (Hina) - The United Nations Security Council is satisfied with the successful completion of the UN police support group mandate in the Danube River region of eastern Croatia, said a Council presidential statement issued in New York on Friday. The Security Council supported the assessments made by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in a recent report stating the situation in eastern Croatia was wholly satisfactory, that local police performance had greatly improved, and that the Croatian government had taken measures to ensure this situation in the future. The Security Council however expressed concern with the fact that Serbs continue leaving eastern Croatia, in considerable measure due to ethnically motivated incidents which still occur. The Council called on the Croatian government to fully strengthen public trust in the police, and to wholeheartedly focus on the reconciliation process. The presidential statement, read by current Security Council chairman, United States Ambassador Peter Burleigh, also states some concrete issues demanding urgent resolution. These include the return of property, the harmonisation of legislation, equal conditions in obtaining loans for reconstruction and in the enforcement of the law adjustment act. The Council also reminded of the Croatian government's obligation to support the work of a joint council of eastern Croatian municipalities with a majority Serb population, in line with the Erdut Agreement, international conventions, and other agreements. (hina) ha