SIMONOVIC: NO LEGAL BASIS OR INTEREST FOR EXTENDING UNTAES MANDATE

MANDATE $ VUKOVAR, Sept 17 (Hina) - Croatian ambassador to the UN Ivan Simonovic said on Wednesday that "there is neither legal basis nor interest to make any changes regarding the date of the termination of the UNTAES mandate" in the Danube river region of eastern Croatia. Simonovic visited the area on Wednesday and discussed the process of its peaceful reintegration into Croatia and the completion of the UNTAES mandate with head of the UN Transitional Administration (UNTAES) William Walker, mayors of Vukovar and Beli Manastir Vladimir Stengl and Veljko Bertic, and Transitional Police Force chief Ivan Babic. Speaking to reporters after the talks, Simonovic said that "the UNTAES mandate is defined by the Erdut agreement and, in accordance with it, ends on January 15 next year." Simonovic said that Croatia was open to talks on how to ensure full implementation of the UNTAES mandate by the set deadline. He expressed satisfaction with his talks with the Transitional Administrator. Simonovic noted that at this moment there were many criticisms directed against Croatia, which may also prompt a response from the UN Security Council soon. He stressed that "in this sensitive stage" it was necessary to respond to those criticisms with a good presentation of what had been done so far and what was yet to be done and until which time, so that the mandate could be implemented by January 15. (hina) vm jn 171641 MET sep 97