SECURITY COUNCIL SUPPORTS ANNAN'S REPORT, COMMENDS CRO GOVT

WASHINGTON, Oct 20 (Hina) - The UN Security Council on Monday welcomed the latest report of the Secretary General on the UN Transitional Administration of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srijem (UNTAES), as well as the steps taken by the Croatian government in view of a peaceful reintegration of the Danube river region of eastern Croatia. The Security Council called on the government to urgently comply with the remaining obligations. "The Security Council shares the assessment of the Secretary General that there is sufficient time for Croatia to comply fully with its obligations and commitments before 15 January 1998 and urges the Government of Croatia to redouble its efforts in the time remaining," said the presidential statement the Security Council issued by consensus. In his report on the UNTAES issued earlier this month, the Secretary General assessed that conditions for the full transfer of authority from the Transitional Administration to Croatian authorities had still not been provided. In the presidential statement, the Security Council noted "with approval several positive actions taken" by the Croatian government, pointing out it was "encouraged by the increased cooperation with the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia." The Security Council in particular welcomed the recent establishment by the Croatian government of a programme for national reconciliation. "A final assessment of this programme must await its full and prompt implementation", the presidential statement said. The Council noted with concern that there were still many unsolved issues and areas in which the Croatian government would have to take urgent action. The government is expected to stop media attacks on ethnic groups and, in particular, to remove all legal and administrative barriers to the accelerated and voluntary two-way return of displaced persons, including their right to choose to live in the region, as well as to remove obstacles to the return of refugees. The Security Council noted the urgent need for all local government bodies, particularly the City Council of Vukovar, to commence full normal functions immediately. The Council also said that the local Serb population must take more active measures to participate in the reintegration process. The presidential statement welcomed the "cooperation between UNTAES and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in expanding the long-term mission of the OSCE in Croatia." (hina) ha mm 202034 MET oct 97