ZAGREB, Nov 27 (Hina) - The House of Representatives on Wednesday concluded a debate on a Government's report proposing the acceptance of a UN Security Council Resolution on the extension of the UNTAES mandate.
ZAGREB, Nov 27 (Hina) - The House of Representatives on Wednesday
concluded a debate on a Government's report proposing the
acceptance of a UN Security Council Resolution on the extension of
the UNTAES mandate. #L#
In response to deputies' comments, Foreign Minister Granic and
Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Kostovic stressed the need for
cooperation with the Transitional Administrator, Gen. Jacques
Klein.
"His role is an important one, and the end of the UNTAES
mandate will depend on his opinion," Granic told the House.
Gen. Klein's task was not to preserve the status quo but to
reintegrate the Croatian Danubian area into the Croatian
constitutional and legal system, Granic stressed in response to
objections raised by some deputies.
Considerable pressure had been exerted and certain rash
statements on Klein and the reintegration process had been made
prior to the adoption of the Resolution by the Security Council,
Granic said. This had a very detrimental effect and contributed to
the United States taking such a tough stance on the UNTAES mandate,
he added.
However, it did not affect the relations between Croatia and
the United States as partner countries, he said.
Kostovic answered a series of deputies' questions on
reintegration as envisaged by the Erdut Agreement. He confirmed
that under the Erdut Agreement, the timing of elections in the
Croatian Danubian area was within the competence of the
Transitional Administrator.
"We have no other choice but to readily cooperate with the
Transitional Administrator," Kostovic summed up.
He noted that the Contact Group had extended guarantees that
the election would be organised in accordance with Croatian law.
Kostovic stressed that it was imperative to enable Serbs who
so wished to stay in the Danubian area, and to make it possible for
those who had left the liberated areas to return to their homes.
"It is no longer a secret that one of UNTAES's tasks is to
prevent a mass exodus of Serbs," Kostovic concluded.
(hina) jn as
272142 MET nov 96