$ GRATION WASHINGTON, Aug 15 (Hina) - UN Security Council on Thursday issued a presidential statement calling the Croatian government to assist in the creation of conditions for the reintegration of eastern Slavonia, Baranja and
western Srijem, including the adoption of a comprehensive amnesty law and the financing of the overall local administration in the Croatian Danubian area.
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$ GRATION
WASHINGTON, Aug 15 (Hina) - UN Security Council on Thursday issued
a presidential statement calling the Croatian government to assist
in the creation of conditions for the reintegration of eastern
Slavonia, Baranja and western Srijem, including the adoption of a
comprehensive amnesty law and the financing of the overall local
administration in the Croatian Danubian area. #L#
Recalling that the Basic Agreement envisaged a transitional
period of 12 months which could be extended to another 12 months if
one of the sides requested so, the Council postponed considering
the possible extension of the UNTAES mandate, despite the request
from the UN Secretary-General, Boutros Gali.
In his report from August 5, Gali asked that the Council
consider whether to extend the UNTAES mandate for 12 more months or
not.
"(The Council) stresses the importance it attaches to UNTAES
being able to complete its mandated tasks, including the
organization of elections as provided for in the Basic Agreement,
promptly and in full. To that end, the Council affirms its
readiness to consider, at an appropriate time, extending the
duration of the mandate of UNTAES," the statement said.
The Security Council welcomed the progress made by UNTAES in
the implementation of the Basic Agreement on the region of eastern
Slavonia, Baranja and western Srijem and in the promotion of full
and peaceful reintegration of eastern Slavonia into Croatia.
The Council stressed that the reconstruction and maintenance
of the multi-ethnic character of eastern Slavonia were "important
to international efforts to maintain peace and stability in the
region of the former Yugoslavia as a whole," and reminded both
sides of their commitments for cooperation with the UNTAES.
"The Council underlines the importance of economic
rehabilitation of the region, the establishment of a Transitional
Police Force and the return of displaced persons and refugees to
their homes in the region, as well as the importance of the
promotion of the government of Croatia of the return of displaced
persons and refugees to their homes of origin elsewhere in the
Republic of Croatia."
"It further underlines the importance of the holding of
elections in accordance with the Basic Agreement, once the
necessary conditions have been established," the statement said.
The security Council reminded the Croatian government of its
commitments to cooperate with the UNTAES and to create conditions
for the establishment of stability in the region.
The Council reiterated its request that the Croatian
government adopt a comprehensive Amnesty Law concerning all persons
who had, voluntarily or by coercion, served in the civil
administration, military of police forces of the local Serb
authorities in the former UN Protected Areas, with the exception of
those who has committed war crimes.
"The Council notes with concern that the amnesty law and the
action subsequently taken by the government of Croatia... have been
insufficient to create confidence among the local Serb population
in eastern Slavonia".
The Council welcomed the agreement reached by Croatia and
UNTAES about the financing of public services in areas under UNTAES
control, but it warned that "this funding is not sufficient to
cover all the costs of such services and it expects further funding
to be made available by the government of Croatia urgently and
without conditions".
(hina) lm
151934 MET aug 96