CRO GOVT WELCOMES DECISION ON WITHDRAWAL OF 2,000 UNTAES SOLDIERS

SOLDIERS $ ZAGREB, Oct 17 (Hina) - The Croatian government is satisfied with and welcomes the decision of the UN Security Council to withdraw more than 2,000 UNTAES soldiers from the Danube river region of eastern Croatia by 15 November 1997, the head of the government's Communications Office, Neven Jurica, told reporters in Zagreb on Friday, adding 720 UNTAES soldiers will remain. A spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, Zeljko Trkanjec, was also present at the press conference. The Security Council decision testifies to the successful course of peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danube region and foreshadows the upcoming end of the UNTAES mandate, Jurica said. Following the final disinternationalization of that part of its territory and the withdrawal of international forces in due time, Croatia will be able to fully concentrate on interior development which, Jurica said, is the key interest of all Croatian citizens. Commenting on a recent visit of Council of Europe rapporteurs in charge of monitoring how member-countries comply with undertaken obligations, Jurica said the visit testified to and confirmed Croatia's efficiency in meeting its commitments. Foreign Ministry spokesman Trkanjec answered a question concerning Croatia's Ambassador to Japan, Andjelko Simic, who was relieved of duty. A Japanese employee in the Croatian Embassy in Tokyo did forward a letter containing allegations on inappropriate behaviour on Simic's part, Trkanjec said, but pointed out that Simic strongly and fully denied all allegations, claiming there had been no inappropriate behaviour. Despite that and in the interest of the Croatian diplomacy's reputation in Japan, Ambassador Simic was relieved of duty, Trkanjec said. Simic had performed his ambassadorial duty successfully, he added. (hina) ha jn 171603 MET oct 97