CROATIAN ARMY, GOVT OFFICIALS MEET RUSSIAN UNTAES OFFICIALS

OSIJEK, Nov 4 (Hina) - The Croatian army deputy commander for the Djakovo military district, Major General Slavko Baric, and the head of the government office for the UN-administered area of eastern Croatia, Ivica Vrkic, met in Osijek on Monday with the outgoing deputy commander of UN troops, Colonel Lev Lukovnikov, and his successor, General Roman Epifanov of Russia. Thanking the Russian contingent serving with the UN force for its achievements in the preservation of peace, Baric expressed hope that the good cooperation between the Croatian army and the UN Transitional Administration in Eastern Slavonia (UNTAES) would continue. Baric said that the next step in the process of peaceful reintegration of the area into Croatia's administrative system would include mine disposal operations in the villages of Laslovo and Korod and the opening of the Osijek-Vinkovci road. Thanking UNTAES for security it had provided during All Saints' Day visits by Croatian refugees to cemeteries in the area, Vrkic said that the successful demilitarization of the area would be followed by a more complex stage in the reintegration process - creation of living conditions for all people in the area. "We want the area to return under Croatian authority as soon as possible so that all citizens could live in peace," Vrkic said. Lukovnikov expressed satisfaction with cooperation with the Croatian side, stressing that the peace process required patience. Epifanov stressed the UN's wish to restore peace and security to the area. (hina) vm 041356 MET nov 96