'SLOBODNA DALMACIJA' COMMENTS ON RUSSIA'S PEACE INITIATIVE

ZAGREB, March 27 (Hina) - Russia's diplomatic response to the Copenhagen agreement between Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and US Vice President Al Gore is aimed at protecting the interests of Serbian territorial expansionism, according to a comment piece in today's issue of the Split-based daily Slobodna Dalmacija, headlined "Russia's Undermining of Tudjman and Gore." Slobodna Dalmacija quoted unofficial sources as saying that Russian Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev, and apparently Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic as well, proposed that all states that had emerged on the territory of the former Yugoslavia recognize one another. As far as Croatia was concerned, its recognition by Serbia would be conditional until rebel Serbs were satisfied with a degree of their autonomy in Croatia. On the other hand, Serbia and Montenegro demanded they be recognized as the sole successors to the former Yugoslav federation. "Croatia, of course, will not agree to the still unofficial proposal. Besides, Croatia will never agree to the deployment of new peace troops along the lines of separation. "Croatia wants no forces deployed on the separation lines that could obstruct pressure being exerted on the rebels," the commentary said. (hina) jn vm 271400 MET mar 95