CRO AMBASSADOR AT UN SPEAKS ABOUT UNTAES MANDATE

ZAGREB, June 5 (Hina) - Croatian Ambassador at the UN Ivan Simonovic on Thursday evening said that a letter by the foreign minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Milan Milutinovic, forwarded today to the UN Security Council and demanding a six-month prolongation of the UNTAES mandate "is on the line of the Yugoslav diplomacy to date, which does not deny the sovereignty of Croatia on the territory of the Croatian Danube region, but does everything slow down, that is delay transition to full Croatian authorities control". "As concerned the time when the letter appeared, it is certain that Yugoslavia assessed that, after Madeleine Albright's visit, it was a good opportunity for pressure, however, we evaluate that Yugoslavia has hurried with the letter", Simonovic said in "Motrista", Croatian TV's late news broadcast. A report by UN's Secretary General, followed by a discussion at the Security Council concerning the future presence of UN in the Croatian Danube region would follow late this month, he added. Asked how certain the extension of UNTAES' mandate in eastern Croatia was, Simonovic said that "in line with Resolution 1079 and the Basic Agreement, UN remains in eastern Slavonia even after 15 July, but it isn't at all the same what that presence will amount to". In this is also the greatest difference in views between Yugoslavia and Croatia. "Minister Milutinovic points out that the transitional period starts only after these elections and must last until 15 January. On the other hand, our position is that the transitional period starts when the transitional administration came to Croatia, and that after the elections, that is after 15 July, UNTAES's presence must primarily consist in supporting the legitimately elected Croatian authorities", Simonovic said. He added that UNTAES' military component was no longer necessary, whereas concerning the administration of the region, it was being transferred to Croatian authorities. (hina) ha 060002 MET jun 97