CROATIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY REPLIES TO U.N. GENERAL

ZAGREB, May 12 (Hina) - In response to the latest statement by UNCRO representative, Gen. Kotil, saying that Croatian army was violating the signed agreements, Croatia's Ministry of Defence forwarded a communique to Hina today. Following is the full text of the communique. "After the signing of the Zagreb Agreement on March 29, 1994, and Croatian army's withdrawal from the separation zone, Croatian rebel Serbs have remained in control of the zone as well as on UN observation posts. UN forces have never taken any steps regarding the matter. After rebel Serbs deployed artillery and tanks at the very separation line, Croatian army units were forced to reenter the separation zone for security reasons. International mediators then intervened and arranged negotiations. Croatian army unilaterally and unconditionally withdrew from most of the positions it had taken in the separation zone. Rebel Serbs responded with the immediate seizure of certain points previously abandoned by the Croatian army. In addition they blocked access to a UN base, by planting mines around it. The UN forces' demand to ship logistic support and troops relieve across the territory under Croatian Government control was immediately approved. Logistic support has been regularly shipped since May 1. During the fiercest rebel Serb attacks on UN observation posts, the Croatian army has rescued the UN troops and given them shelter. During the period from 06.00 hours on May 3, 1995 to 18.00 hours on May 11, 1995, rebel Serbs have violated the truce 36 times. These violations included four anti-aircraft cannon attacks, one attack with rocket-propelled grenades, 19 mortar attacks, three artillery and four tank attacks, as well as seven infantry attacks. Croatian army never responded but each time filed protests to UNCRO, UNMO and EU monitors. None of them ever reacted. The assertion that Croatian army has been sniping at Serb positions from UN observation posts is not true. We are drawing your attention to the fact that rebel Serbs wounded a UN soldier on May 9, 1995 at 14.00 hours. The Croatian army has always been there to help UNCRO forces, supplying them regularly with food, drink, and medical assistance, which was needed by Czech UN peacekeepers because of the rebel Serb blockade. We can produce photographs showing that reports of Croatian army presence at UN observation posts are quite erroneous. For example we have pictures showing rebel Serbs entering the separation zone and laying mines in the Otocac area. The facts we have produced here clearly prove that erroneous information is being presented to the world public and the international community in order to make it seem that Croatian army is violating the adopted agreements," the Defence Ministry's communique said. (Hina) mm fk bk 121821 MET may 95