U.N. BACKS CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY STATEMENT

ZAGREB, April 13 (Hina) - UN officials backed yesterday's statement by the Croatian Foreign Ministry which dismissed as groundless widespread concern that Croatia did not want African and Asian troops to serve with the UN Confidence Restoration Operation force on its territory, UN spokesman Michael Williams said in Zagreb Thursday. He recalled that Ukrainian and Dutch foreign ministers had expressed concern about the possibility of such a Croatian attitude at a meeting in the Hague yesterday. The Croatian Foreign Ministry statement now dispelled all doubts about it, Williams stressed, underscoring the importance of preserving the multinational character of the UN force. (Hina) mm bk 131731 MET apr 95