CROATIAN GOVERNMENT OPENS OFFICE IN BOROVO

BOROVO, Jan 21 (Hina) - The Croatian government office for the restoration of Croatian authority in UN-administered eastern Croatia opened an office in the town of Borovo on Tuesday. The opening ceremony was attended by UN Transitional Administrator Jacques Klein, head of the Croatian government office for the region Ivica Vrkic and representative of the local Serb authorities Vojislav Stanimirovic. Klein described the opening of the office as another big step in the process of peaceful reintegration of the region into Croatia's administrative system. Klein said that after today's meeting with Croatian Defence and Interior Ministers Gojko Susak and Ivan Penic, he remained very optimistic that the peaceful reintegration process would be completed according to schedule. Klein thanked the Croatian government and the local Serb authorities for cooperation. He emphasized that the Croatian government's letter of intent ensured the protection of the rights of the local Serb population according to the highest international standards. Vrkic said that through direct cooperation with the UN Transitional Administration and the local Serbs, the Borovo office would work towards a common goal - the completion of the peaceful reintegration process. Vrkic stressed that the Croatian government would ensure normal living conditions for all people who chose to live in the area. Vrkic said that the opening of the Borovo office was the best sign that the peaceful reintegration process was entering the final stage. On Tuesday, the government also opened an office in Beli Manastir, he added. Stanimirovic said that the Borovo office was opened for the purposes of daily cooperation between the Croatian government and the local Serb authorities, and of the local population. He expressed conviction that the office would provide necessary information and help local residents to obtain Croatian documents and to solve their property and refugee issues. Speaking of local elections scheduled for March 16, Stanimirovic said that it was a "political date" and that he expected the elections to take place in April. But if the UN Transitional Administration and the Croatian government ensure conditions, the elections may also take place in March, he said. (hina) vm jn 212017 MET jan 97