CROAT OFFICIAL'S DENIAL OF 'GUARDIAN' ARTICLE

ZAGREB, April 11 (Hina) - The head of the Croatian Government's office for relations with UN peace forces and the European Union Monitoring Mission, Milivoj Tomas, issued a denial to the British newspaper 'The Guardian' because of an article by the newspaper's correspondent from Zagreb, Julian Borger, published in the April 10 issue. The denial delivered today to the Croatian News Agency HINA says: "As regards the article in "The Guardian" headlined "Croatia to demand all-white UN force", I must say that I talked with the British journalist in the Croatian Government's office in presence of the adviser Goranka Zaklan". "Mr Borger was escorted to the Government office by Mr R. De Norman of the EU Monitoring Mission". "Asked by the journalist about the effectiveness of the UNPROFOR mission, I said that the leadership of the Republic of Croatia and the Parliament had already given an answer to that question and that I had nothing to add". "Asked what the UNPA Sector West was to look like, I said that the Croatian leadership would soon present its demands by April 21 1995, when the UN Secretary General was to submit his report". "Asked whether the Russian contingent was to remain in the mission, I asked the journalist why it shouldn't stay. The journalist further asked which contingents (from which countries) Croatia was objecting to and I said that we objected to the whole work of the UNPROFOR mission, because it had failed to carry out its mandate". "Asked which contingents would remain in the new mission, I said that it would be good for Croatia if the mission would be performed by our neighbours, who were acquainted with our customs, culture and the causes of the Serbian aggression on Croatia". "However, UN has its charters and principles according to which it organizes its missions and will surely stick to its principles, so that it depends primarily on the UN to decide which contingents are to stay and which not". "I never spoke about the colour of skin of contingent members or about the incompetence of particular contingents or their members. Neither did I speak about Croatia's President Franjo Tudjman choosing contingents or the like". "Mr Borger obviously had a prepared text for publishing before he came to the Government Office for relations with UN peace forces and EU Monitoring Mission, and used his visit for publishing such a false article directed against Croatia and Croatian people", reads Tomas' denial. (hina) rm mms 112059 MET apr 95