GHALI PROPOSES EXTENSION OF U.N. MANDATE IN PREVLAKA

NEW YORK, 3 Jan (Hina) - On the last day of his mandate, the former Secretary General of the United Nations, Boutros Boutros Ghali, submitted to the U.N. Security Council a report proposing an extension of the U.N. Mission of Observers in the Prevlaka peninsula (UNMOP) mandate until 15 July 1997. #L# In his report of 31 December, publicized last night, Ghali explains his proposal by his estimation that the complete implementation of the Agreement on the Normalisation of Relations Between Croatia and Yugoslavia in the Prevlaka peninsula requires the presence of U.N. observers. UNMOP consists of 28 United Nations military observers. Their current mandate expires on 15 January 1997. According to Ghali's estimations, chances for a peaceful solution of the Prevlaka issue have improved with the signing of the Normalisation Agreement. UNMOP has secured stability in the area of Prevlaka and the two sides have to continue with negotiations on the solution of the problem: "Prevlaka remains a stable area. However, as recent events have shown, it is also a tense area and the potential for a military confrontation still exists. The continued violations and the lack of real progress on the adoption of the options presented by UNMOP are thus cause for concern." UNMOP is seeking a reduction in military and police deployment in the area and the elimination of existing violations, which should improve the climate for negotiations on a final settlement, Ghali said. Describing the current situation in the Prevlaka peninsula and speaking about the deployment of Croatian and Yugoslav patrols in the area, Ghali used for the first time the term 'international border'. It is expected that the U.N. Security Council will adopt a resolution on the extension of UNMOP mandate until 15 July 1997 in the next several days. (hina) rm 031205 MET jan 97