U.S. TO SUPPORT TERMINATION OF UNTAES MANDATE IN MID-JULY - SUSAK

WASHINGTON, Oct 31 (Hina) - Croatian Defence Minister Gojko Susak said on Thursday that the United States would support the termination of the UN mandate in eastern Croatia in mid-July next year. "I think we will have their support," Susak said after meeting US Defence Secretary William Perry in Washington. "Croatia will stick to a proposal reached between Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and UN Transitional Administrator Jacques Klein on a three-plus-three model for completion of the UNTAES mandate," he said. Susak noted that "it is irrelevant to Croatia whether the model is called three plus three or six months." Susak described military cooperation between the two countries as "exceptionally good." He announced that a group of experts from the Pentagon would visit Croatia soon. Perry would ask for further funds to be earmarked from the US budget for the continuation of training of Croatian army officers in the US. Speaking of a crisis in the implementation of the Train and Equip programme for the armed forces of the Bosnian Croat-Moslem Federation, Susak said that the US administration would continue to insist on the removal of Deputy Defence Minister Hasan Cengic. About ten days ago, the US administration halted the first big arms shipment to the Federation army, making its delivery conditional upon the removal of Cengic over his strong ties with Iran. "President Izetbegovic will have to make a move - replace Cengic or abandon the Train and Equip programme," Susak said. He said that a decision on Cengic would show Izetbegovic's strategic orientation, adding that Cengic's power as deputy defence minister could not be neglected. Cengic had full control over Bosnian Moslem forces and had brought Moslem priests to every military unit, Susak said. "Those are not military chaplains, those are unit commanders." Also disturbing were reports that the Moslems were getting arms supplies from Islamic countries by air in violation of arms control agreements, Susak said. (hina) vm jn 312211 MET oct 96