OSCE MISSION CHIEF EXPLAINS STATEMENT ON EASTERN SLAVONIA ( Editorial: --> 0628 )

( Editorial: --> 0628 ) ZAGREB, Nov 13 (Hina) - Serbs in Croatia's eastern Danubian region feel insecure because of the imminent departure of UNTAES and the Croatian authorities' takeover of the area, OSCE mission chief in Croatia, Tim Guldimann, said on Thursday. Explaining an OSCE statement forwarded to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on 12 November, Guldimann stressed it was a 'feeling' because Serbs had no reason to feel insecure because the situation in the Danubian area was stable and order and peace reigned. There was insufficient faith that the current stability would continue after the UNTAES, he said, citing reports from OSCE's representatives in eastern Slavonia. We do not foresee any negative measures of the Croatian authorities towards the Serbs, Guldimann said, commenting on a part of the statement which reads, "Further success in the reintegration process will depend on general stability and trust, also in view of risk that in a post-UNTAES period Croatian measures against incidents could increase political mistrust amongst the Serbian population, thus provoking further migration." Possible interventions of Croatian authorities in maintaining public order could be interpreted by the Serbs as measures directed against them, he said. The opening of regional National Trust Establishment Programme offices was a measure with which the Croatian authority could ward off such feelings from the Serbs. The OSCE statement said that "Reports have been received where Serb residents were required to hand over the keys of their houses in order to get exit approval, despite the fact that these Serb residents intend to return to their property". Explaining that part of the statement, Guldimann said that Serbs were requested keys to their houses when, for example, they wished to visit their family in Yugoslavia. They were series of cases about which we had been informed, he said. (hina) lm jn 132039 MET nov 97