UNTAES SHOULD REMOVE SERB EXTREMISTS - VRKIC

OSIJEK, 7 Jan (Hina) - Osijek Officer Corps commander, Lieutenant General Djuro Decak and the head of the government office for the U.N.-administered Croatian Danubian area, Ivica Vrkic, on Tuesday received the newly-appointed commander of UNTAES (U.N. Transitional Administration in Eastern Slavonia) military forces, Major General Willy Hanset and former commander Major General Joseph Schoups, whose mandate expires on 15 January. #L# Decak thanked Schoups for cooperation in the demilitarization and removal of mines in the Croatian Danubian area. The head of the government office for the U.N.-administered area, Ivica Vrkic, thanked Schoups, stressing that UNTAES activities had created conditions for a successful completion of the UNTAES mandate, the return of displaced persons and the establishment of a 'free and democratic society in the Danubian area'. Commenting on yesterday's incident in Ilok, Vrkic said that the incident showed that UNTAES would have 'to take more determined actions so as to remove Serb extremists who, by acting as terrorists, work against their own people'. He said that those extremists 'are not ready to accept Croatian authority and create conditions for peace'. Preparations for the opening of an office for temporary administration for the towns of Borovo and Beli Manastir were almost completed, he added. General Hanset expressed belief that UNTAES would be able to carry out its tasks among people of good will. If that is not possible, UNTAES has powerful means at its disposal and everyone should understand that I would not hesitate to use them if the lives of my soldiers or civilians are jeopardised, Hanset said, adding that UNTAES would do everything so that elections in the Danubian area could be held as in any other democratic country. (hina) rm mm 071826 MET jan 97