UNTAES, ICTY PROSECUTOR CONDEMN FORGED LETTERS

ZAGREB, 16 Aug (Hina) - The public affairs office of the U.N. Transitional Administration in Eastern Slavonia (UNTAES) Headquarters in Vukovar on Saturday released a statement concerning the appearance of fake letters and postcards which on behalf of the Hague Tribunal request additional information on some individuals in the Croatian Danube river region. Here is the full text of the statement: "Following numerous complaints and queries by residents of the region regarding certain inflammatory documents and provocative postcards ascribed to the United Nations agencies, UNTAES makes the following clarification: Recently, some of the region's residents and institutions began receiving copies of a letter purportedly issued by the Prosecutor and the Registrar of ICTY and addressed to the UN Civilian Police Commissioner in Vukovar requesting information on individuals who are described as subjects of criminal proceedings within the Tribunal. UNTAES immediately alerted ICTY of this fact. Today, ICTY Justice Louise Arbour issued an official statement in the Hague which emphatically states that 'this document did not originate from her office of from anyone within the Tribunal'. She further reiterated that 'it is a complete fabrication, and absolutely no credence should be attributed to it'. The Tribunal initiated an immediate investigation into the matter and requested UNTAES to appeal to the residents of the region who received this forged letter to hand it over together with the envelope to the UNTAES Headquarters in Vukovar in order to identify the perpetrators. Postcards also were mailed to some local residents, explicitly urging them to 'leave the region as soon as possible'. These postcards were ostensibly sent from the Civil Affairs Office of UNTAES. These postcards are totally false as well. UNTAES strongly condemns these provocative attempts to sow anxiety and insecurity among the residents of the region. Such acts are obviously intended to undermine UNTAES' mandate and the process of peaceful reintegration. It is particularly detrimental to the efforts to achieve national reconciliation. It also runs contrary to the main goals set up by the Government of Croatia for the successful completion of peaceful reintegration. UNTAES reiterates that all these alleged 'documents' are nothing but ill-intentioned forgeries. UNTAES once again appeals to the population not to be misled by such provocations and to address all their questions and concerns to UNTAES. (hina) rm 161527 MET aug 97