U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS UNTAES MANDATE

WASHINGTON, July 14 (Hina) - The UN Security Council adopted a resolution on Monday extending the mandate of the UN Transitional Administration (UNTAES) in the Danube river region of eastern Croatia until January 15 next year and supporting a proposal for reconstructing the UNTAES mission. The Council supported a substantial reduction of the UNTAES military component by October 15 this year, while the overall mandate would terminate by January 15 next year. The resolution said that the pace of the transfer of authority from UNTAES to Croatia would depend on Croatia's readiness to fully cooperate with the international community and to respect the highest standards of human rights. A particular emphasis was laid on the importance of the two-way return of all refugees and displaced persons to their pre-war homes and on the removal of all administrative and legal obstacles to the return, as well as on the implementation of the Amnesty Act. Expressing concern over a lack of cooperation with the Hague-based international war crimes tribunal, the Council reminded all countries in the region, including Croatia, of that obligation. The resolution urged the local Serb population to demonstrate a constructive attitude to the reintegration process. It called on the Croatian government to launch a country-wide public programme of national reconciliation. The resolution welcomed the renewed mandate of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) mission in Croatia that would monitor the human rights situation after the termination of the UNTAES mission. The Council stressed the need for achieving agreements with Belgrade on demilitarisation and a liberal border regime. (hina) vm 141820 MET jul 97