GRANIC ON EXPULSIONS OF CROATS FROM SERB-HELD AREAS

ZAGREB, May 21 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic today confirmed news of Croats being expelled from Bapska and Sarengrad, villages in a Serb-occupied area of eastern Croatia. "We have reports of pressure being exerted and of expulsions," Granic told Croatian radio. The head of the Croatian government office in Belgrade, Zvonimir Markovic, today visited Sid, a town in northwestern Serbia close to the border with Croatia, but local Serbian authorities would not show him all they should have, Granic said. He said that Croatia was exerting pressure through Belgrade and international humanitarian and political organizations to stop the expulsion of Croats from Bapska, the Srijem region of northwestern Serbia and the Serb-held Banja Luka area of northwestern Bosnia. "The most terrible things are happening there - a classic example of terror and attempt to drive out the entire Croat population from Banja Luka," Granic stressed. Granic said that the situation was somewhat calmer following vehement protests from the Croatian government. He added that the number of those who had been forced to leave appeared to be lower than it seemed at the beginning. Granic stressed that it was important that UNCRO got involved and that Croats were protected in their homes. (hina) vm 212207 MET may 95