$ ITARY UNIT ZAGREB, 24 May (Hina) - The situation in Vukovar and eastern Slavonia was stable, all sides were cooperating with UNTAES forces and the process of bringing back that part of Croatia under the control of Croatian
authorities was proceeding step by step, as planned, UNTAES spokesman in Zagreb Philip Arnold told a press conference on Friday.
PARAMIL
$ ITARY UNIT
ZAGREB, 24 May (Hina) - The situation in Vukovar and eastern
Slavonia was stable, all sides were cooperating with UNTAES forces
and the process of bringing back that part of Croatia under the
control of Croatian authorities was proceeding step by step, as
planned, UNTAES spokesman in Zagreb Philip Arnold told a press
conference on Friday. #L#
Arnold spoke about the opening of the Zagreb-Belgrade highway,
the re-establishment of phone links and postal service between
UNTAES-controlled areas and the rest of Croatia, and the spraying
against mosquitoes which was financed by Croatia authorities. The
spraying was carried out by planes flown by Croatian pilots and
Serb co-pilots.
Arnold expressed hope that the extraction of oil from the
Djeletovci oil fields would start soon since the Serb paramilitary
troops have recently been driven out from the area. The opening of
the Djeletovci oil refinery would create jobs for some 400 to 600
people.
First trains on the Vinkovci-Sid railway line would start
travelling as of mid June.
The pilot-program of return of refugees to the Lipovac area
would start soon, Arnold said.
The demilitarization of the area, which was running according
to plan, should be completed by 21 June, Arnold added.
UNTAES has distributed some 100,000 leaflets to the local
population of eastern Slavonia in which it explained the meaning of
the term and the process of demilitarization. The demilitarization
means 'the disbanding and demobilization of all army and police
forces, except for those police forces which would maintain law and
order.
Arnold described as positive a recent address by Goran Hadzic
via television to the local Serbs, in which he called on the local
population to remain in their homes and cooperate with UNTAES.
Speaking about an incident which happened Thursday night at an
UNTAES check-point near Prevlaka, in which fire had been opened on
members of the Jordanian battalion (they returned fire), Arnold
said that it was possible, though still unconfirmed, that fire had
been opened by members of the 'Scorpion' paramilitary unit, which
had been evicted from the Djeletovci area recently. It was supposed
that members of the unit approached the Jordanian battalion,
dressed in civilian clothing, and opened fire on them.
Asked about weapons which were used in the attack, Arnold said
that it was possible that the still unidentified attackers had used
small arms and mortar shells.
Since a census has still not been conducted in the area of
eastern Slavonia, UNTAES finds it difficult to give an accurate
estimation on how many people are living are in the area. It is
supposed that there are some 85,000 to 240,000 people in the area.
The main task of UNTAES, Arnold said, was to give to all
people who are living there a feeling of security and connect the
area, which has been isolated for several years, with the rest of
Croatia.
The United States had set aside some 9,7 million dollars of
loans for small entrepreneurs in the region. A similar project was
being prepared by the Norwegian government, Arnold said.
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