STATEMENTS OF AKASHI AND SARINIC AFTER PAKRAC TALKS

PAKRAC, May 5 (Hina) - The Croatian President's chief-of-staff, Hrvoje Sarinic, Interior Minister Ivan Jarnjak and UN Secretary- General's special envoy Yasushi Akashi, held talks today in Pakrac. After the talks Sarinic and Akashi gave statements to journalists. "We conducted very useful talks. We expressed our concern, but we also received assurances that our monitors could freely visit places where people from until yesterday occupied areas of Pakrac, are now accommodated," Akashi said adding that UN officials were promised that they would be allowed to tour Croatian positions this afternoon. Akashi said this would be necessary so that UN peace activities could be completely free, and added that it was in the interest of Croatia to allow free implementation of peace mission. He believed that it was important that Croatia acted in accordance with all international agreements and conventions as regards human rights. It was also important that the Cessation of Hostilities, that he had reached with Mr. Sarinic on May 3, be carried out as soon as possible, Akashi stressed. He also said that people must have a free choice whether they would like to remain or leave. Akashi believed that all should be aware that if reconciliation was indispensable to Croatia, Croatia should show its readiness for such an act in Pakrac. Asked about reports available to him on conduct of Croatian authorities toward Serbs so far, Akashi replied that UN military monitors, UNHCR and ICRC workers as well as EU monitors confided to him that the conduct was correct. Akashi already talked with several Serb leaders who confided to him that they were afraid, but they added that Croatian police treated them correctly. Hrvoje Sarinic said that wrong reports on the Croatian police's behaviour had been explained in today's talks. "We must make distinction between police and military action toward groups that have not yet laid down arms, and the conduct toward those who have surrendered" Sarinic said adding that civilians were at the moment in their homes, and journalists could interview such residents. In this sense today's meeting was useful, he added. Asked how many Serbs had not still surrendered Sarinic said he had no reliable reports on that matter. He added that the area is wooded and difficult to be combed. Nevertheless, 99 per cent of the ground in question had been searched and cleared, according to Sarinic. He said the Croatian side would try to persuade the remaining armed Serbs to surrender, because they had no chance of survival. (hina) mm mms 051605 MET may 95