BELGRADE, Aug 28 (Hina) - Transitional Administrator for the Croatian Danube river region, William Walker, said in Belgrade Thursday that his most important task was to attempt to create normal and stable conditions for life in the
Danubian area after UNTAES left the region. He added that what his predecessor had accomplished would not be changed, but would continue to be followed in the same direction.
BELGRADE, Aug 28 (Hina) - Transitional Administrator for the
Croatian Danube river region, William Walker, said in Belgrade
Thursday that his most important task was to attempt to create
normal and stable conditions for life in the Danubian area after
UNTAES left the region.
He added that what his predecessor had accomplished would
not be changed, but would continue to be followed in the same
direction. #L#
Walker held, as he put it, open and honest talks with the
Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic on Thursday, after which he
held a news conference at which he stressed that the talks had
focused on the situation in the Croatian Danubian area and on the
development of relations between Croatia and Yugoslavia.
The demilitarisation of the bordering area between Croatia
and Yugoslavia should be completed by 15 January next year, when
UNTAES's mandate in the region expired.
Considering the conditions under which work was done in the
Danubian area, a lot had been accomplished, but not all problems
had been solved, Walker said, adding that the contentious issues
concerned education, judicial bodies, health insurance and
pensions.
Asked how many people had so far returned to Eastern
Slavonia, Baranja and western Srijem, Walker said he did not have
the exact information, as people were returning both in an
organised fashion and of their own initiative.
Regarding the issue of dual citizenship, Walker said the
question should be posed to Milosevic and his associates, but
added the issue was being processed.
Milosevic was advocating a 'soft' border between Croatia
and Yugoslavia, similar to European borders, across which people
and goods would pass freely, which would lead to economic
progress in the region, Walker said.
He stressed the UN advocated a full reconciliation between
Croatia and Serbia, adding that he had spoken with Croatian
authorities about the possibility of celebrating "Reconciliation
Day" between the two countries.
Everything leading towards the normalisation of relations
between the two countries and the establishment of trust was the
right thing and was leading in the right direction, Walker
stressed.
He added that he had not discussed with Milosevic the
apprehension of war crimes suspects, because the mission of
UNTAES did not include solving that problem, but he volunteered
that all those indicted of war crimes had to be arrested and
brought before the International Tribunal in The Hague.
(hina) lm
281921 MET aug 97