CROATIA WON'T START THE WAR, DEFENCE MINISTER SUSAK SAYS

ZAGREB, March 4 (Hina) - Croatian Defence Minister, Gojko Susak, and Deputy Prime Minister, Borislav Skegro, appeared last night in a Croatian TV current events show. The evening's topic was the concern of the international community over Croatia's decision to end the UNPROFOR mandate. Susak compared Croatia's position three years ago, when the agreement on UNPROFOR's deployment was signed, and the situation now, when Croatia had "a well-structured and equipped army which could guarantee the safety of all Croatian citizens." Commenting on speculations about UNPROFOR's withdrawal from Croatia resulting in a pull-out from Bosnia, Susak said there was no justifiable need for that, as the mandates were separate and Croatia was willing to extend every assistance to UNPROFOR's mission in Bosnia. "Croatia is willing for the international community to participate in the control of Croatian borders with Bosnia and Serbia, because Croatia guarantees that it won't start the war," Susak said. "We have chosen peace and we believe that we will be able to retrieve most of the now occupied areas by peaceful means. But if there were any commando squads, then the Croatian army would undertake limited operations - in Knin or elsewhere," Susak said. He said the Croatian army currently had 114,000 men under arms. But in case of any unforeseen operations, Croatia would be able to mobilise half a million people within 24 hours. Susak denied allegations by UNPROFOR and other sources that any troops were being mobilised now, except for relief purposes. He dismissed intervention threats from Belgrade and Pale as unfounded. Asked if any financial pressure had been exerted on Croatia to revoke its decision, Skegro said there had been none. Deals and negotiations with international financial institutions are following their expected course, although a certain amount of concern has been expressed, Skegro said. (hina) as 041043 MET mar 95