CRO AMBASSADOR ZUZUL AND WALKER HOLD TALKS IN WASHINGTON

WASHNIGTON, Oct 8 (Hina) - Croatia's Ambassador to the United States, Miomir Zuzul, received the UN Transitional Administrator of the Croatian Danube river area, William Walker, at the American diplomat's request, in Washington on Tuesday. Walker expressed satisfaction with the role of Croatia as an intermediary in the voluntary surrender of ten Bosnian Croat war crimes suspects to the Hague Tribunal, and then notified Zuzul of his stands regarding the latest report of the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the UN Transitional Administration in eastern Slavonia (UNTAES). The U.S. diplomat held that the Annan's report showed great progress achieved so far in the region, and from the other hand, it placed emphasis on steps which should be made by 15 November 1997 when the further pull-out of the UNTAES military component is due to be, according to current programmes, and by 15 January 1998 when the whole UNTAES mandate expires. Croatian Ambassador asked Walker why the report failed to mention a programme for establishment of trust recently adopted by his Government. Applauding the adoption of the programme, Walker replied that it was passed while the elaboration of Annan's report was at the final stage and explained that, unfortunately, the programme was not mentioned in it due to administrative deadlines within the UN administration. Zuzul and Walker agreed that Croatia, the United States and the international community had a shared interest in the successful completion of the UNTAES mandate by 15 January 1998. Such a success would the best evidence of the ability of the international community to implement plans when there are unequivocal goals and good will. Walker and Zuzul believed that all involved in the completion of the peaceful reintegration of the eastern Croatian area would make efforts in order that UNTAES may be one of the greatest successes of the international community's peace missions. (hina) jn mš 081011 MET oct 97