AKASHI'S STATEMENT AFTER MEETING WITH SARINIC

ZAGREB, Jan 11 (Hina) - UN special envoy Yasushi Akashi expressed satisfaction with progress in the implementation of the December 2 economic agreement between the Croatian government and rebel Serbs from occupied areas. Speaking to reporters after meeting Croatian government chief negotiator Hrvoje Sarinic, Akashi said they discussed the overall implementation of the economic agreement as well as today's talks between the Croatian government and rebel Serbs on further implementation of this accord and the UNPROFOR mandate in Croatia. Sarinic also expressed satisfaction with today's talks at Zagreb's Pleso airport, Akashi said. The highway issue was being solved very well and substantial progress was made with regard to the opening of the oil pipeline and the restoration of power supplies, Akashi said. We set deadlines for water supplies to be restored and railway lines to be opened and we were much closer to solutions than a few weeks ago, he added. But he said there were still some difficulties concerning the implementation of a pilot program on the return of displaced persons to their homes in UN-protected areas. Although UNPROFOR had made it possible for people to return to some villages there was still much work to be done in that field, Akashi added. Asked about the future of the UNPROFOR mission in Croatia, Akashi replied that the mandate would be decided by the Security Council. The UN secretary general was preparing a report on the UN mission in Croatia, which he was to submit to the Security Council by January 20. Akashi emphasized that UNPROFOR, as a peace-keeping and not a peace-making force, was doing its utmost. (hina) jn vm 112126 MET jan 95