CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY PROTESTS ZHIRINOVSKY'S VISIT TO VUKOVAR

ZAGREB, Feb 1 (Hina) - The Croatian foreign ministry on Tuesday forwarded a letter of protest to the special envoy of the U.N. secretary-general, Yasushi Akashi, over Zhirinovsky's visit to the occupied parts of Croatia without the consent of the Croatian Government. The ministry considers this visit to be contrary to all relevant Security Council resolutions and other documents confirming the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Croatia, said the letter, adding that it might affect the diplomatic efforts aimed at the normalisation of Croatian- Serbian relations and the peaceful reintegration of the UNPAs into the constitutional system of Croatia. The foreign ministry asked Akashi to do his utmost to prevent similar occurrences, which seriously jeopardised prospects for peace in the region. Croatian ambassador to the Russian Federation Niko Bezmalinovic forwarded a similar protest letter to the Russian foreign ministry. 011951 MET feb 94