SARINIC TALKS WITH AKASHI - STATEMENT

ZAGREB, May 10 (Hina) - Head of the Croatian government commission for relations with UNCRO and Croatian President's Chief-of-Staff Hrvoje Sarinic met today in UNCRO Headquarters in Zagreb with UN Secretary General's special envoy Yasushi Akashi, a statement from the Presidential Office said. The two officials discussed the current situation in western Slavonia. Sarinic informed Akashi that the investigation of prisoners- of-war located in three facilities in Varazdin, Bjelovar and Pozega was almost at its end. A larger number of the men were released. Talks were conducted with the local Serb population on whether they would stay in the liberated area or leave. In this regard Croatian authorities were acting in accordance with highest European standards on human rights, Sarinic said. Akashi said that the situation in western Slavonia was satisfactory as concerned the protection of human rights and that it was calming down. The two officials also discussed models of engagement of UNCRO and other international organizations and monitors in western Slavonia. They also talked about the situation in the former sectors East, North and South, where certain tensions in the former zones of separation were noticed. A meeting between military commanders should be soon called so as to lessen these tensions, the two officials concluded. Present at the talks were also a stand-in to the Croatian army Chief-of-Staff, Major General Zvonimir Cervenko, Rear Admiral Davor Domazet and aide to Croatian President's Chief-of-Staff Vesna Skare Ozbolt. (hina) mm rm mms 101724 MET may 95