KOSTOVIC RECEIVES OUTGOING UNTAES COMMANDER

ZAGREB, Jan 13 (Hina) - Croatian Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Kostovic on Monday received the outgoing commander of the UNTAES force in the Danube region of eastern Croatia, Major General Joseph Schoups. Schoups would formally hand over his duties to Major General Willy Hanset on January 15. Kostovic thanked Schoups for his efforts in the process of peaceful reintegration of the region into Croatia. The disarmament of Serb paramilitary forces in the region, which had been carried out under Schoup's supervision, had been a huge contribution to the peaceful reintegration process, he said. Kostovic expressed a hope that the cooperation with the UNTAES force would continue to be successful under the command of General Hanset. The talks focused on crucial events that would take place during the rest of the UNTAES mandate, particularly upcoming elections and the return of refugees. Kostovic informed Schoups about a letter of intent by the Croatian government on the completion of peaceful reintegration of the UN-administered region. Thanking the Croatian government for its cooperation, Schoups expressed confidence that the UNTAES force would continue to make every effort to efficiently conduct local elections and to ensure the successful termination of the UNTAES mandate by July 15 this year. Also present at the meeting was Belgian Ambassador to Croatia Frans Hintjens. (hina) vm 132119 MET jan 97