OSCE MISSION IN CROATIA TO BEGIN IN EARLY JULY

ZAGREB, June 20 (Hina) - Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is to begin their mission for supervision of the peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danubian area and assistance in the normalization of the situation in the liberated area in July, with the opening of the main office in Zagreb. Head of the Mission, Dutch Ambassador Albert Nooij, on Thursday held talks with Croatian Vice-Premier Ljerka Mintas-Hodak. The Mission's task could be described as assistance to Croatian authorities in the normalization of relations in the whole region, including the newly liberated areas, Nooij said. The biggest part of the task would begin when the rest of international organizations, especially the UN, leave eastern Slavonia, Nooij said. OSCE Mission for Croatia was established on 18 April with a decision of the OSCE Standing Committee. Besides in Zagreb, the Mission is to open offices in Knin and Vukovar. The main office in Zagreb is to be opened in early July, the office in Knin should be opened in the second week in July and in Vukovar in early August, Nooij said. More time would be needed for opening the office in Vukovar because UNTAES did not have available premises, Nooij said, adding that the premises would be available after the demilitarization, when the Serb General empties them. (hina) lm jn 201533 MET jun 96