SECURITY COUNCIL DEBATE ON EXTENDING UNPROFOR MANDATE

NEW YORK, Oct 1 (Hina) - United States Ambassador to the UN Madeleine Albright told last night's Security Council session, debating a resolution on the extension of UN mandate in the former Yugoslavia, that the US government strongly supported the fundamental principle expressed in the resolution - that the settlement of the crisis in Croatia must take into account its sovereignty and territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders. Albright said her government regarded the Serb side particularly responsible for creating conditions that would enable the UN peace-keeping force to fulfil its mandate. Bosnian Ambassador to the UN Muhamed Sacirbey said that the situation in Sarajevo, Srebrenica and elsewhere in Bosnia should be resolved immediately. He added that the status quo in Bosnia was enemy to the civilian population, the peace process and stability in the region. The Foreign Minister of the rump Yugoslav federation of Serbia and Montenegro, Vladislav Jovanovic, also supported the extension of the UNPROFOR mandate. Accusing the Croatian government of violating Security Council resolutions, Jovanovic said Croatia did not demonstrate willingness to tackle economic issues related to the UN Protected Areas before the final political solution was found. Jovanovic complained that various provisions of the resolution reflected only Croatian views. Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic did not attend the meeting because of Jovanovic's presence, and Albright walked out of the conference room during Jovanovic's speech. Croatian Ambassador to the UN Marion Nobilo said Croatia accepted the new UNPROFOR mandate "based on the firm assurances from the highest representatives of the international community that the situation in the occupied territories in Croatia shall immediately come into consideration in the work of the Contact Group." "We welcome the Security Council's report for mutual recognition between the successor States of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia within their internationally recognized borders. My Government views the latter as the essential next step in the solution-seeking process in the region," Nobilo said. He expressed hope that the "Contact Group and the United Nations shall immediately begin to pursue measures which are consistent with the letter and the spirit of this resolution, so that the relevant parties shall not be compelled to reconsider the new UNPROFOR mandate after one hundred days, as provided for by this resolution and the resolution of Croatia's Parliament." Nobilo said that Croatia accepted the decision on extending UNPROFOR's mandate "with a view that the Contact Group shall immediately commence work on a comprehensive reintegration plan for Croatia." "My Government must also emphasize the importance of mutual recognition between Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), within exisiting borders, consistent with the final documents of the G-7 Summit, held at Naples from 8 to 10 July (S/1994/827), as the essential next step for the Contact Group's acitivities. The mutual recognition will secure the best possible alternative for protection of minority rights in respect of the Serb minority in Croatia and the Croat minority in Serbia and Montenegro - reciprocity," Nobilo said. The Croatian ambassador expressed discontent and regret that Yugoslavia had been given the right to address the Council. (hina) mm vm 011234 MET oct 94