MATESA: ELECTIONS IN CRO DANUBIAN AREA BY 15 DEC AT LATEST

ZAGREB, July 30 (Hina) - Croatian Premier Zlatko Matesa on Tuesday forwarded a letter to UNTAES Transitional Administrator General Jacques Klein asking that a date be set for elections in the Croatian Danubian area according to the time dynamic of the UNTAES mandate, a statement from the Premier's Office said on Tuesday. "The stance of the Croatian government is that elections in the Danubian area should be held by 15 December 1996 at the latest, that is a month before the end of UNTAES' mandate, as provided in the Resolution of the U.N. Security Council 1037 and the Basic Agreement. " The elections must be organized on the basis of Croatia's Election Law, as early elections for towns and municipalities, as provided in the Law on the Election of Members of Representative Bodies of Local Self-Government and Government Units and on the basis of a 1991 electoral list. "The holding of elections will determine legitimate authorities of a balanced national structure which will be a strong guarantee for a successful completion of UNTAES' mission until 15 January 1997", the letter concluded. (hina) ha 301803 MET jul 96