PUPOVAC CONCERNED OVER INCIDENTS IN EASTERN CROATIA

( Editorial: --> 3860 ) ZAGREB, Jan 12 (Hina) - The president of the Serb People's Council, Milorad Pupovac, on Monday voiced concern over incidents which occurred in eastern Croatia and called on the authorities to "stop those who think the withdrawal of the UNTAES is an occasion for Serbs to leave (eastern Croatia) as well". An incident which took place in Tenja, near Osijek, on Friday, involved 20 persons and could have turned into a mass clash, Pupovac told reporters in Zagreb. He said a group of people from Osijek had arrived to visit a Croat returnee to Tenja. After some "partying", the visit turned into mutual insults with Serbs from Tenja, followed by fighting and shooting. That day shots were fired at a bus in Tenja, Pupovac said, adding that similar minor incidents had occurred in other villages due to the unannounced return of displaced Croats to their occupied houses. Such incidents were a threat to the results achieved so far and in the future must be stopped before they occur, Pupovac said, and commended the police work in all of these cases. He called on the Croatian and Yugoslav Governments to as soon as possible reach and sign an agreement on the demilitarisation of the border area and one on dual citizenship which, Pupovac said, would be "the final contribution to the peace process". (hina) ha jn 121703 MET jan 98