UNMOP CAN STAY IF CROATIA'S SOVEREIGNTY IS CONFIRMED: SIMONOVIC

( Editorial: --> 4576 ) WASHINGTON, June 30 (Hina) - Croatian Ambassador at the UN Ivan Simonovic said on Monday that Croatia can consent to another prolongation of the United Nations Mission of Observers in Prevlaka (UNMOP) mandate only under the condition that the Security Council confirms that Prevlaka (Croatia's southernmost sliver of land) is a part of Croatia and if it offers space for achieving true progress towards a lasting solution. We can consent to another extension of the mandate only if certain progress is achieved through a resolution. We ask of the Security council to confirm that Prevlaka is a part of Croatia, as any other, and to send a clear message that it will no longer stand the stalling of negotiations, Simonovic said in a statement published in New York. Regarding Prevlaka, Croatia has so far shown patience and cooperativeness, but it stresses its determination that the reaching of a solution not be prolonged indeterminately, Simonovic said. He added that it depended on Croatia, as the host to the observers' mission in Prevlaka, how long the UNMOP's mission is to last. Only if the UNMOP leads to a solution will it make sense to extend its mandate again. It is Croatia's initiative, legitimate requests of farmers and fishermen to use their properties and fishing grounds, and clearly shown interest of Montenegro to open border crossings and to establish full normalisation of relations, that are the most clear signs that it was about time for security issues to be solved permanently, Simonovic stressed. The UN Secretary-General hails Croatia's suggestion for resolving the issue of Prevlaka and calls on an acceleration of negotiations, but does not suggest concrete and effective means of pressure to achieve this, he said. Thus, Croatia is only partially satisfied with the report of the Secretary-General, Simonovic said. We believe that the Security Council will keep in mind Croatia's stance when deciding on the content of the resolution on Prevlaka which is to be adopted by July 15, he added. (hina) lml jn 301249 MET jun 98