UNTAES MANDATE CAN END AS PLANNED, WITH SHORT EXTENSION - KOSTOVIC

KOSTOVIC $ BRIJUNI, Aug 12 (Hina) - "Today's working meeting between President Tudjman and General Klein with associates focused on crucial issues, primarily on the issue of UNTAES mandate. The Croatian side again reiterated its stance that the mandate can end within the envisaged time-limit, with a short extension," Croatian vice-premier Ivica Kostovic said after the meeting between Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and the UN Transitional Administrator for the Croatian Danubian area General Jacques Klein on Monday. #L# The second crucial issue discussed had been the elections, Kostovic said. The Croatian side clearly requested that the elections had to end one month before the end of the UNTAES mandate, in line with the UN Resolution, he said. Participants in the talks had expressed satisfaction with Croatia's readiness to financially assist the UNTAES, Kostovic said, adding that other crucial issues had been discussed, such as the reconstruction of other towns, not only those included in the pilot-programme. The meeting also focused on opening traffic lines, especially between Osijek and Vinkovci, and activating a ferry boat which would enable the reconstruction of places in Baranja. The meeting described the process on mine clearance as better than had been envisaged. A meeting which would judge the success of the mine clearing would take place on September 12, Kostovic said, adding that Tudjman had expressed satisfaction with General Klein's and his assistants' mission. In a short public statement, General Klein said that he had congratulated Tudjman for his meeting with Serbian president Milosevic in Athens. The talks had focused on specific problems as was the opening of the railway and road between Vinkovci and Osijek, Klein said, expressing satisfaction with the implementation of his mandate so far. (hina) lm 121626 MET aug 96