PREMIER MATESA SPEAKS ABOUT ARTICLE 11 COMMISSION COMMUNIQUE

( Editorial: --> 0665 ) ZAGREB, April 30 (Hina) - The Croatian Government will via the Foreign Ministry express its stance on allegations made in a statement by the Article 11 Commission on Wednesday, Croatian Premier Zlatko Matesa said in answer to journalists questions following the Government session held on Thursday. On the question is Croatia under any economic sanctions, Matesa said it is not known to him that Croatia is under any economic sanctions and doubts that there will be any. The Article 11 Commission, entrusted with monitoring the implementation of the agreement on peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danube River region, said in a communique on Wednesday that a procedure for individual return of persons who left Croatia, which the Croatian Government adopted on April 27, is substantially and negatively changed from the draft worked out with the international community. The Commission requested the Croatian Government to clarify and, as needed, revise the procedure. Matesa reiterated that the Croatian Government will orderly fulfill all its international commitments and will work on the return plan. He told reporters the plan would have to reflect the whole complexity of the situation provoked by the aggression on Croatia, following the break up of the former Yugoslavia. Furthermore, that plan will have to include the multilateral, many- directional return of all those who lived in some other areas and wish to return to them, said Matesa. "Croatia can undertake everything that is in the function of such a plan. Anything that would represent only a one-sided account of any partial interest causes problems both for the Croatian Government and the Croatian State," said Matesa. He stressed Croatia will steadfastly and patiently work to comply with those commitments, to give everyone equal treatment and full protection of rights as regulated in the Constitution and laws. "The emphasis is on everyone," said the Premier. Matesa was asked if it is correct that the international community is not participating in the donators' conference on reconstruction of Croatia because of its dissatisfaction with Croatia's performance at a return conference in Banja Luka. Namely, High Representative Carlos Westendorp on Thursday in Sarajevo's Dnevni Avaz daily expressed disappointment with the speech by Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic. Westendorp said the international community suspended its participation in the donators' conference because of that speech. The Premier said that there was no indication from official EU channels or some other international factor expressing dissatisfaction with the Croatian delegation's participation at the Banja Luka conference. For the donators' conference to give results it will have to be well prepared, Matesa added. Asked if stronger measures will be introduced given the cancellation of trade preferences, Matesa said that he does not know what is meant by stronger measures nor the nature of the recommendation by the Article 11 Commission. The Article 11 Commission referred this matter to the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the European Union, Council of Europe, UN Secretary-General and the Contact Group with a recommendation that strong action be taken, their statement said. Given that these are unilaterally recognised preferences, Matesa added that the European Union can always do that. Matesa believes that there exists an adequate degree of understanding in the EU of Croatia's efforts and enough objectivity in assessing Croatia's situation. That leads me to believe they would make this decision with difficulty, stressed Matesa. (hina) jn mrb/ha 301857 MET apr 98