ANNAN PROPOSES 6-MONTH PROLONGATION OF UNMOP MANDATE ON PREVLAKA

WASHINGTON, July 5 (Hina) - UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has proposed to the Security Council that the mandate of the UN military observers at on southernmost Croatian peninsula of Prevlaka should be extended for six months until January 15, 1998. In regard to circumstances, I believed that the presence of the UNMOP continued to be crucial in maintaining conditions helpful for a settlement to the dispute through negotiations, Annan wrote in his report to the Security Council, released in New York. The current mandate of 28 UN observers expires on July 15. In the report, Annan said that the violations of the regime of demilitarisation were registered at both sides, and that no progress had been achieved in a solution to the question of Prevlaka. The Security Council is expected to confirm Annan's proposal by a technical resolution during next week. (hina) mš 051634 MET jul 97