GENERAL KLEIN GIVES INTERVIEW ON CRO TV

ZAGREB, 19 Jan (Hina) - Transitional administrator for the Croatian Danubian area General Jacques Klein on Saturday evening gave an interview on the Croatian TV's late evening news show "Motrista", in which he spoke about the set deadlines for the implementation of the peaceful reintegration and the forthcoming local elections in the area. Klein said the 15 July deadline for the implementation of the reintegration process was reasonable and stressed that the next crucial step were the elections, which, he hoped, would take place on 16 March during the Croatian regional elections. The election process was already underway, Klein explained, adding that it was necessary ro register voters and ensure that Croatian displaced persons from Osijek, Vinkovci and other Croatian towns may vote. Speaking of the 13 January Letter of Intent of the Croatian government, Klein said it "gives local population more than they expected." He added that the Erdut Agreement was the basic document from which it all started, but, he stressed, there had been other issues that were solved, such as the postponement of military service, representatives at the ministries in Zagreb and who would be allowed to vote. Klein forwarded the Letter to the Security Council in New York, and informed the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the ambassadors of the Contact Group and the Council of Europe about it as well. "Everobody thinks it's a very good package, and I hope the local population will accept it," General Klein said. Local Serbs were often not informed correctly, Klein said, adding that their leadership deceived them. He evaluated the Letter of Intent as "more than fair for any minority according to international standards." If they accepted the package and we stayed long enough to supervise its implementation, it would turn out a very positive move for them, Klein said. The Serbs' political representatives nevertheless had some objections in relation to the Croatian government's Letter of Intent, Klein said, such as the request for territorial integrity of the area which, under Croatian law, was divided into two counties. This would not slow down the reintegration process, he said, pointing out that the area had never been a united area and that it must be reintegrated in accordance with the Croatian law. The local Serbs were also worried about the demilitarization issue, Klein said, explaining that they wished a statement the area would remain demilitarized. They were not worried about police, customs, the legal system and other authority, but the return of the army, Klein said. He also commented on the recent incidents which took place in the area. They would not happen again, Klein said, adding that the murder of a woman in Ilok was a criminal offense, not necessarily political. The most important thing was, he stressed, that many Serbs from Ilok attended the funeral. Towards the end of the interview Klein reiterated that it was necessary to inform the local population about the election process, that the elections would be internationally supervised, open to all candidates and that there was no reason for people to go anywhere, like to Yugoslavia for instance. Croatia would strengthen its ties with Europe, economically and financialy become stronger and it represented the best choice for them in the next five years, General Klein concluded. (hina) ha 191440 MET jan 97