UNTAES SIMPLIFIES DANUBE REGION ENTRY PROCEDURE ( Editorial: --> 7693 )

( Editorial: --> 7693 ) VUKOVAR, Nov 3 (Hina) - Sponsored visits to the Croatian Danube river region are revoked as of Monday, 3 November, in line with a decision of the UN Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia (UNTAES) to simplify the procedure of entering Danube region from other Croatian parts. People can now enter the Danube region using regular transport services, by bus and by train, or on foot but they should write down personal data at check points. Cars will be able to enter the region without special permits, the so-called blue or white cards, as of 15 November, the UNTAES has announced. As of Monday, pedestrians can enter the UNTAES-controlled area via the Bilje, Nemetin-Sarvas and Mirkovci-Vinkovci three check points, where Transitional Police Force (TPF) will register their names, citizen identification numbers, addresses and their destinations and let them pass the check-points. Passengers aboard busses and trains will give their personal data to drivers who will deliver it to policemen at check-points. So far, UNTAES has also allowed people to enter the area in a similar way, even without registering their personal data. The important change will happen on 15 November when the car permits should be revoked. Till that day, cars can drive into the Danube region from 06.00 am to 10.00 pm every day, while up to now they might enter the region from 07.00 am to 07.00 pm every day. Transitional police will check the identity of people entering the area and inspect whether they possess arms and they will also control the security and safety of the region. (hina) jn mš 031248 MET nov 97