UN SECURITY COUNCIL PASSES RESOLUTION ON NEW MANDATE IN CROATIA

NEW YORK, April 1 (Hina) - The UN Security Council last night unanimously adopted Resolution 981 establishing the United Nations Confidence Restoration Operation in Croatia (UNCRO), for a period terminating on 30 November 1995. The Security Council also passed Resolutions 982 and 983, extending the present mandates in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Macedonia. Resolution 981 defines the principles of the operation, which will include the implementation of the March 29 Cease-Fire Agreement, the Dec 2 Economic Agreement and the relevant UNSC resolutions, as well as assistance in controlling Croatia's international borders, by monitoring and reporting. The resolution confirms Croatia's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders and calls on the Croatian Government and local Serb authorities to enter into negotiations for a settlement on the basis of the Z-4 plan. The resolution calls for the implementation of elements of the Vance plan, such as the demilitarisation of the areas under Serb control, the return of all refugees and displaced persons and the establishment of local police forces to protect the human rights of all residents. The resolution defines the UNCRO operation as an interim arrangement to create the conditions that will facilitate a negotiated settlement consistent with the territorial integrity of Croatia and which guarantees the security and rights of all communities living in a particular area of Croatia, irrespective of whether they constitute in this area a majority or minority. (hina) as 011012 MET apr 95