UNPROFOR WAITS FOR U.N. DECISION ON NEW MANDATE IN CROATIA

ZAGREB, March 28 (Hina) - UN headquarters in New York were pondering Croatian remarks on the UN Secretary-General's report on the new mandate of UN forces in Croatia, and the decision on the new mandate should be made by the end of this week, UNPROFOR spokesman, Michael Williams, said in Zagreb today. Williams told a press conference that the UN Secretary-General and the Security Council were contemplating letters which Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and Foreign Minister Mate Granic had sent on March 22 and 27 respectively. Williams pointed out the importance of continuing negotiations with the Croatian Government and local Knin (Serb) authorities on the main elements of the UN mandate in Croatia. On Monday the UN Secretary-General's report was read at the UN Security Council, which in principle welcomed the text as well as the mediating activities of UN envoy, Thorvald Stoltenberg, between the two sides in Croatia. Commenting on Croatia's demands concerning the new mandate, Williams said that the positions must come to an agreement as the current UNPROFOR mandate expires on March 31. The remaining possibilities are - the extension of the current UNPROFOR mandate, which the UN Security Council would do if it had no other options - and the furthermost possibility is the withdrawal of UNPROFOR, Williams warned. The acceptance of Croatia's demand for the control of its borders depended on cooperation between the sides on the ground, Williams believed. In connection with the new mandate UNPROFOR wanted that mandate to be clearly defined, and warned that their mission was exclusively peacekeeping and not peacemaking. (hina) jn sd mms 281543 MET mar 95