$ IA - COFFMAN ZAGREB, Nov 1 (Hina) - UNTAES troops have withdrawn from five villages in the Croatian Danubian area and have handed them to Croatian authority, deputy UNTAES spokesman Douglas Coffman told Hina on Friday.
SLAVON
$ IA - COFFMAN
ZAGREB, Nov 1 (Hina) - UNTAES troops have withdrawn from five
villages in the Croatian Danubian area and have handed them to
Croatian authority, deputy UNTAES spokesman Douglas Coffman told
Hina on Friday. #L#
The five villages were Podgradje, Apsevci, Lipovac, Donje Novo
Selo and the south part of Nijemci, Coffman said, adding that the
Jordanian battalion which had been in the area had withdrawn north
of the Bosut river which divided the village of Nijemci, and their
check-point is to be established on the bridge.
The transitional police and UN insignia would remain in the
area which had been handed over to the Croatian authority, the area
would be demilitarized and UNTAES troops are to patrol it
regularly, Coffman stressed.
Asked which Croatian services and institutions would be able
to enter the mentioned villages, Coffman said that the UNTAES had
"enabled free and open access to refugees" to the villages, adding
that an agreement would have to be reached with the UNTAES about
the entry of Croatian institutions.
The speed of return of displaced persons depended on Croatia,
Coffman said, stressing that, as far as UNTAES was concerned,
displaced persons could return tomorrow.
Croatian vice-premier Ivica Kostovic on Thursday said UNTAES
had handed over all villages south of the bridge in Nijemci to
Croatian authority, adding that "displaced persons will be able to
return to their villages before Christmas".
(hina) lm
011749 MET nov 96