CROATIAN FLAG AND CROATIAN CUSTOMS INTRODUCED IN DANUBE REGION

ILOK, July 14 (Hina) - Croatian flags were on Monday hoisted in the Croatian Danube region at border crossings to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and "Croatian Customs" signs were placed on customs buildings. Croatian customs regulations are as of 07.00 hours today in effect in the Croatian Danube region, with temporary limitations. These refer to 15 goods of existential importance being imported from Yugoslavia, for which only one percent customs duty will be charged. For the duration of the UNTAES mandate in the region, regulations concerning persons crossing the border will remain the same as until now. The head of the Croatian Customs Administration, Josip Knezic, today recalled that a transitional administration was introduced last year in December. For the first time in six years, Croatia has achieved full sovereignty on all of its borders, said the chief of the UNTAES border crossing monitors, Alistair Livingston. He hoped that the final phase of the Croatian Danube region's peaceful reintegration has begun with the introduction of Croatian customs on the country's eastern border. According to the head of the Osijek customs house, Zdravko Milic, in eastern Croatia's UN-administered region Croatian flags were hoisted and Croatian customs offices opened at the following border crossings to Yugoslavia: Tovarnik, Ilok 1 and 2, Erdut, and Batina. Customs outposts for goods entry have also been opened in Vukovar and Beli Manastir, Milic said, adding that 66 out of 139 local customs employees signed work contracts with the Croatian customs, and will thus retain their posts. (hina) ha mm 141543 MET jul 97