PROTEST BY CROATIAN EMBASSY TO ROME

ROME, Nov 15 (Hina) - Because of a statement by Italian Foreign Minister Beniamin Andreatta that sanctions should also be imposed on Croatia and the Serb-occupied territories in Croatia could be included in a possible trade with territories and that it was not clear whether the Moslem offensive in central Bosnia was positive or negative, the Croatian Embassy to Rome will lodge a protest with the Italian Foreign Ministry. Charge d'Affaires at the Croatian Embassy Zeljko Balosic will request an audience in the Italian Foreign Ministry today to lodge a protest over Minister Andreatta's statement. "Croatia has accepted the UN Security Council resolutions. ... It supports energetically a cessation of all armed conflicts, and unless the current Moslem offensive in Herzegovina is immediately brought to a stop, there is a danger of escalation of the armed conflict. A strong peace intervention by all factors in the international organization is necessary, and in this context our wish is to see the Italian Government efficiently involved," said the protest note. As for the position of the Serb-occupied territories in Croatia, the note said that "Croatia vigorously protests at any form of interference in its territorial integrity and sovereignty." "Italy as a politically and economically influential country can contribute to the cessation of armed conflicts in the area of the former Yugoslavia. This is what Croatia expects from Italy as a friendly and neighbouring country," said the protest note. 151726 MET nov 93