CROATIA PROTESTS AGAINST RACISM CHARGES

ZAGREB, April 12 (Hina) - Following is the full text of a statement issued today by the Croatian Foreign Ministry: "The Government of Croatia is compelled to strongly protest against the allegations of showing racism and chauvinism against the Asian and African members of UN troops on the Croatian territory, to be deployed within the framework of the UN Confidence Restoration Operation in Croatia - UNCRO, which have appeared in some press and agency reports in the last couple of days. In those reports, the Republic of Croatia, its President and other high officials have been ascribed statements and quotations regarding the alleged inability, ignorance and inferiority if the Asian and Afrian UN troops on the territory of Croatia in comparison with other, European and North American troops. The reports went so far as to announce the official Croatian request to the UN for the deployment of "white only" troops in the framework of UNCRO. "The Government of Croatia rejects any accusation of ever having, officially or unofficially, declared the Asian or African members of the UN mission in the Republic of Croatia unwelcome in any way. The only objection to the UN mission that the Government of Croatia expressed was consistently the one regarding the general inefficiency of the UN Protection Forces (UNPROFOR) operation as a whole and their inability to perform the functions foreseen in their mandate under the relevant Resolutions of the UN Security Council. This objection has been made a number of times by the Croatian Parliament, the President of the Republic of Croatia and the general public, leading eventually to the cancellation of the UNPROFOR mandate in Croatia as of March 31st, 1995 and the establishment of a new, separate UN operation for the Republic of Croatia under UN Security Council Resolution 981 (1995). On the other hand, Croatia has repeatedly made known its position that it would like to see as much NATO and European regional engagement in the solution of the crisis as possible. This position has been based solely on the criteria of the European leading role, responsibility and means to efficiently assist in the reintegration of the occupied territories of Croatia, the paramount issue of Croatian foreign and internal policy, and it was confirmed by the UN Secretary General in his reports. However, it had nothing whatsoever to do with racial or national characteristics of any member of the UN mission in Croatia, nor does it in any way presuppose any Croatian tendency to offend or depreciate the valuable efforts that all non-European UN members put in the process of trying to bring peace back to Croatia. The Government of Croatia reiterates that there are no manifestations of racism neither in its policy nor among the people of Croatia. To this can witness many UNPROFOR officials, as well as other international organizations' officials, who were always more than welcome to Croatia and were extended all possible assistance in performing of their activities." (hina) mm vm 121915 MET apr 95