5TH ANNIVERSARY OF EU MONITORS' DEATH MARKED IN N.CROATIA

NOVI MAROF, Jan 7 (Hina) - An EU Monitor Mission delegation unveiled a memorial plaque outside the village of Podrute, 60 kms north of Zagreb, on Tuesday to mark the fifth anniversary of the death of five members of the EU Monitor Mission. Five years ago an EU monitor mission helicopter with the five monitors aboard was hit by a rocket fired from the then JNA (Yugoslav) Air Force's plane above Podrute. A commemorative ceremony was held on Tuesday at the site of the tragedy, in front of a chapel built by EU Monitor Mission, Croatian authorities and local citizens. A Croatian minister, Branko Mocibob, addressed the commemoration. On behalf of the Croatian Government, leadership and nation, Mocibob expressed gratitude to people who gave their lives for peace in these areas. On Tuesday EU monitors also paid their last respects to their Belgian colleague who had been killed on May 2 five years ago at Rodoc outside Mostar (southern Bosnia- Herzegovina) and to all others who laid down their lives for the peace in the region. The commemorative ceremony at Podrute was attended by families of the deceased, EU Monitor Mission representatives from Italy, Belgium and France, and Croatian Foreign Ministry and Army officials. (hina) mm mš 071758 MET jan 97