YUGO. MINISTRY: INCIDENT ON DANUBE - MISTAKE

BELGRADE, July 29 (Hina) - The border incident that occurred on Sunday on the Danube near Backa Palanka was, by all judgement, a procedural mistake in announcing the intention to cross the border" but the incident should not have any repercussions on relations between the two countries, a statement issued by the Yugoslav Foreign Ministry on Monday said. #L# In an effort to explain the circumstances surrounding the incident, the statement notes, the Yugoslav Foreign Ministry on Monday invited Croatian Ambassador to Belgrade, Davor Bozinovic, to the ministry. According to the federal ministry, it was "a well-conceived meeting of delegations of the border municipalities between Yugoslavia and Croatia but with mistakes in its realisation" and it wrote that the resolution of remaining questions related to the border between the two countries would in future avoid similar incidents. Zvezdan Kisic, the Mayor of the Yugoslav town - Backa Palanka - was one of the participants of the event however, he claimed that the incident was probably " organised political manipulation and provocation" with the aim of internationalising the issue of the border on the Danube. At the initiative of Vukovar-Srijem County Prefect Nikola Safer and the Ilok deputy mayor, a meeting was organised in Sarengrad, Kisic said on Monday for a local radio station. A group of citizens from Sarengrad headed towards the border despite my warning to them that they could not do so without written approval. As the president of this municipality, I regret that the incident occurred particularly since my presence was exploited, Kisic said, adding that the Yugoslav army acted in keeping with regulations. (hina) sp ms