DEMILITARIZATION IS PROCEEDING WELL: KLEIN

OSIJEK, May 22 (Hina) - The demilitarization of Baranja, eastern Slavonia and western Srijem which had begun on Tuesday was proceeding well and the Serb side was cooperating, Transitional Administrator Jacques Klein told Wednesday's news conference at the Osijek airport. Heavy weaponry, artillery, rocket launchers and anti-aircraft weapons had to be removed from areas under UNTAES control within a time-limit of 30 days, Klein said. All weapons that remain in the area after the 30 day period will be destroyed. Klein informed reporters that spraying for mosquitoes in the Osijek, Vinkovci and areas under UNTAES control, some 22,000 hectares, which had begun on May 19 was completed. The money for the spraying was donated by the town of Osijek and was executed by pilots from Osijek and co-pilots from the temporarily occupied area. The spraying was invaluable because mosquitoes were a great nuisance as they had not been sprayed for six years in the occupied area, Klein said. A member of the Beli Manastir town council in exile, Josip Kompanovic, who was on Tuesday present at the ceremonious communication connection of Baranja, told reporters that Baranja was not destroyed, but neglected. "However, after the return of displaced persons, normal life would be restored quickly," Kompanovic said. Local residents realized that Croatian authority was returning to Baranja, Kompanovic told reporters. (hina) lm jn 221604 MET may 96