ONLY NINE TRANSITIONAL POLICEMEN REFUSE CROATIAN UNIFORMS

( Editorial: --> 5055 ) ILOK, Dec 1 (Hina) - The Transitional Police Force in eastern Croatia on Monday began wearing Croatian uniforms. It was an "important step in the peaceful reintegration process", Croatian assistant interior minister Josko Moric assessed. "I can say with satisfaction that there have been no problems and difficulties," Moric told reporters in Ilok. "On the contrary, the population seems to be impressed by the fact that, as of today, Croatian police uniforms can be seen in the Danube river region." It was encouraging that policemen wearing Croatian uniforms for the first time today were encountering no problems in their work, Moric said. Nine Serb members of the TPF refused to exchange their former uniforms with the new, Croatian ones. According to Moric, these were people who had earlier on decided to leave Croatia and whose families had been living in Yugoslavia for months. The figure of nine people could not endanger the peaceful reintegration process, Moric said, adding he would soon learn if other Serb policemen, those working other shifts, on sick or annual leave, would accept Croatian police uniforms. Commenting on the situation in eastern Croatia, the assistant interior minister said it had stabilized and calmed down after some explosions around 18 November. It was peaceful and stable now, he said. A group of criminals had left the Danube river region and Croatia, three people suspected of recent explosions had been arrested and there was no reason for dissatisfaction, Moric said. (hina) ha jn 011634 MET dec 97