UNTEAS ORGANISES GATHERING OF ILLEGAL WEAPONS & AMMUNITION

( Editorial: --> 6200 ) VUKOVAR, 5 Dec (Hina) - The U.N. Transitional Administration in Eastern Slavonia (UNTAES) will organise an action aimed at gathering weapons and ammunition in UNTAES bases in Beli Manastir and Klisa, said UNTAES spokesman Phillip Arnold in Vukovar Friday. The action was proposed by the UNTAES. The gathering of weapons and ammunition will take place every weekend from 8 am to 3 pm until the end of the UNTAES mandate, on 15 January. The UNTAES organised a similar action earlier this year and those who handed over their weapons were paid for it. Representatives of the Serb community came in the U.N. headquarters after the completion of the action at the beginning of this year, to hand over weapons and ammunition. The UNTAES action is aimed at encouraging the Serbs to hand over illegal weapons and ammunition. Since the completion of the earlier action, UNTAES has received some 100 pieces of weapons and large amounts of mines and ammunition. It is in the interest of Serbs to get rid of illegal weapons by the end of the UNTAES mandate, especially as it concerns respect for Croatian laws, said Arnold. (hina) jn rm 051658 MET dec 97