SIMONOVIC VISITS BELI MANASTIR

BELI MANASTIR, 17 Sept (Hina) - Croatia's Ambassador in the United Nations Ivan Simonovic and his associates on Wednesday visited the Croatian Danube river region. As part of the visit, Simonovic held talks with Beli Manastir mayor Veljko Bertic. Simonovic and Bertic discussed what should be done so that the UNTAES mandate is successfully completed on 15 January as planned. 'There are certain problems because this is a difficult process, but the situation in the area, in terms of security, is stable, and it is improving in economic and social areas as well, Simonovic said. The head of the Transitional Police Force, Ivan Babic, said the talks had focused on the security situation in Danube river region and other aspects of peaceful reintegration. Babic added that security conditions were judged favourable with a tendency of improvement. According to Beli Manastir mayor Bertic, also discussed were the functioning of local administration and self-government, social difficulties and safety of people in the area in the period following the completion of the UNTAES mandate. (hina) rm 172024 MET sep 97