GARROD ANNOUNCES 'WAR' ON MOSTAR CRIMINALS

MOSTAR, 22 Aug (Hina) - Special representative of the European Union in Mostar, Martin Garrod, spoke at today's opening of the new Mostar bus station in the eastern part of the city. Speaking for the first time in Croatian, Garrod said that 'if we want to normalize the life in the city, we have to remove the scum from it'. He added he meant 'thieves, gangs and criminals the citizens of Mostar are afraid of'. One of the main tasks in Mostar was to 'achieve a unified city administration', according to Garrod. Stressing that there was a lot to do in Mostar, Garrod added he would work in future with the newly elected Mostar mayor and deputy mayor Ivan Prskalo and Safet Orucevic respectively. Deputy mayor Orucevic conveyed mayor Prskalo's regards, who could not attend the celebration. 'I am convinced that mayor Prskalo and I would open many similar facilities which would serve the unified Mostar', Orucevic said. 'We have to reestablish mutual trust, let our wounds heal and prevent revenge', said Orucevic. The reconstruction of the bus station, financed by the European Union, cost 385,000 German marks. The station's building and equipment had been completely destroyed during the 1993 Croat- Muslim war. (hina) rm 221425 MET aug 96