GRANIC'S PRESS CONFERENCE ON CROATIA'S UNPROFOR DECISION

ZAGREB, Jan 13 (Hina) - After an introduction at a press conference today by Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic, deputy Foreign Minister Ivo Sanader told reporters about his visit to London, Rome and the Vatican. Sanader was sent to these cities in the capacity of President Franjo Tudjman's special envoy to inform high officials of these countries of Croatia's decision to end the UNPROFOR mandate. He said the high officials fully accepted Croatia's arguments for its decision but expressed concern that the withdrawal of UNPROFOR from Croatia could exacerbate the risk of renewed war in Croatia. Croatian ambassador to Turkey, Hidajet Biscevic said that he held talks in Zagreb with the Turkish ambassador who expressed full understanding of Croatia's decision to end the UN mandate. He said the Turkish ambassador was also hopeful that the decision would prompt a speedy resolution to the crisis both in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Granic responded to questions from local and foreign journalists. Asked if it was possible for UN Secretary General Boutros- Boutros Ghali to put into question Croatia's decision, Granic repeated and emphasised that the "decision on ending the mandate was not open to any negotiations". "The Security Council can bring such a decision in the framework of the UN Charter chapter 7, and we are well aware of this," Granic said. "However, it is unlikely that the UN Security Council would make such a decision in the event of a sovereign UN member State asking that UN peace keepers be withdrawn." Asked if Croatia would accept a new and altered UNPROFOR mandate, with UNPROFOR assuming new authorities, Granic said that Croatia was not prepared to have any armed forces on its territory under any circumstances. "Croatia would support a more significant role from the EU and its monitor mission as well as Organisation of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)," Granic said. He added that the termination of the UNPROFOR mandate in Croatia did not mean Croatia's rejection of the international community, the UN and its institutions involved in resolving the crisis in Croatia. Asked if Croatia was militarily capable of returning its occupied areas, should Serbia and Bosnian Serbs take part in the possible conflict, Granic said Croatia was ready to establish control over its entire territory. He repeated that Croatia would do its utmost to carry out the reintegration peacefully and that it had no plan to use the military option. One of the questions asked was why Croatia now separated the resolution of the Croatian crisis from a solution to the Bosnian crisis. Granic said there were limited prospects for a quick solution to the crisis in Bosnia. Croatia could no longer wait for such a solution but the reversed order of achieving solutions could contribute to the prompt settlement of the Bosnian crisis as well. "A powerful Croatia will contribute to a fair solution of the Bosnian crisis," Granic said. (hina) mar sd mms 131710 MET jan 95