U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL SAYS APRIL 13 REALISTIC DATE FOR ELECTIONS

WASHINGTON, March 7 (Hina) - The UN Security Council said on Friday that April 13 was a realistic and achievable date for holding free and fair elections in the UN-administered Danube region of eastern Croatia. In a presidential statement, passed following the February 24 report by the Secretary General on the situation in the Danube region, the Security Council urged the parties to fully cooperate with the UN Transitional Administration (UNTAES). The Council emphasised that it was in the greatest interest of the members of the Serb community to take out their citizenship documents, fully participate in the elections and take part in Croatian political life as equal citizens on the basis of exercising rights and guarantees from the January 13 letter of the Croatian government. The Council deeply regretted obstructing activities by some elements of the Serb community in the region who were creating an atmosphere of political agitation and insecurity. The Council called on all residents of the region to follow wise leadership, stay in the region and take up their future as citizens of the Republic of Croatia. It stressed that the holding of elections would also depend on the readiness of the Croatian government to fulfil all preconditions, including the issuance of documents, provision of information and timely completion of technical arrangements necessary for confirmation. It welcomed the encouraging progress of the Croatian government in that respect. However, the Council said it was concerned that the implementation of those procedures was uneven and called on the Croatian government to double its efforts to ensure the completion of necessary technical preparations for the holding of elections. The Council urged the Croatian government to issue, with the aim of assuring the Serb community, an official public confirmation of verbal guarantees given to UNTAES and to reaffirm its commitments. The presidential statement also called on the Croatian government to ensure the just and consistent implementation of the Amnesty Act. The long- term success of the peaceful reintegration would be determined by the government's commitment to reconciliation and ensuring that the Serbs currently living in the region enjoyed equal rights as Croatian citizens. The Council said it shared deep concern at failure to make progress regarding the future of displaced people in the region and the establishment of equal procedure as regards housing, the granting of aid and loans for reconstruction, and compensation for property in line with the Basic Agreement and Croatian legislation. The presidential statement reaffirmed the right of all refugees and displaced persons to return to their homes throughout Croatia and to live in safety. The Council welcomed a proposal by UNTAES and UNHCR regarding the return of displaced persons and called on the Croatian government to resume talks on the proposal without delay, to cooperate with UNTAES and UNHCR in its implementation and to issue a clear and unequivocal public statement and take concrete actions confirming the equal rights of all displaced persons regardless of their ethnic origin. The Council welcomed the commitment of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Croatia to making progress in their bilateral relations, particularly with a view to permanently demilitarising the border area and abolishing visa requirements, which would make a great contribution to confidence building and stabilisation of the region. The presidential statement requested the Secretary General to make recommendations about a further UN presence in the region after the elections. (hina) vm 072124 MET mar 97