IFOR LEGAL ADVISER EXPLAINS DAMAGES CLAIM PROCEDURE

ZAGREB, Jan 26 (Hina) - Should the troops with the NATO-led peace Implementation Force (IFOR) cause any damage in Croatia, the compensation would be paid by their respective governments, an IFOR's lawyer said. The agreement between the IFOR and Croatian government on the issue would be signed within next two weeks, the Force's legal advisor, U.S. Navy Colonel Frederick Lorenz told a news conference on Friday. #L# In such cases (e.g. traffic accidents or so) the injured party should first report the damage to the Croatian Interior Ministry, Col. Lorenz explained. Then the Ministry, if it assesses the demand is justified, would proceed it to recently established office for claims with IFOR. Should the office finds the demand to be justified as well, it would inform the respective national government which would be obliged to pay for the damage within a month. Questioned of whether there was a mechanism to make a government to pay should it fail to do so, Col. Lorenz that NATO would use "political pressure." By this moment, he said, most of demands for compensation -- around 20 -- have been filed in Zupanja area, where IFOR had built two pontoon bridges for transportation of the troops to Bosnia- Herzegovina. The IFOR would however not pay for any damage caused during possible -- though not likely in Croatia -- military actions, he stressed, recalling the Force was either not to pay any taxes, customs or fees for using public commodities, airports, ports, railroads etc. Only the utilities, such as garbage collection, would be paid, as well as using of the private-owned property and services. (Hina) jn bk 261746 MET jan 96