LOCAL SERB LEADERS COMMENT ON UN RESOLUTION

BELGRADE, Nov 17 (Hina) - Local heads of the Serb population in eastern Slavonia, Baranja and western Sirmium, Saturday voiced satisfaction with the UN Security Council resolution on extending the UNTAES mandate by 15 July, 1997, Belgrade radio and television broadcast. Goran Hadzic said there were no reason any more for pessimism, and called the residents in the Croatian Danubian area not to leave the area in order to "win elections." Vojislav Stanimirovic said some parts of the UN Resolution had imposed great commitments to Croatia as regards the return of Serb refugees, and voiced a hope that the UNTAES mandate could be prolonged into 1998. Vojin Susa said Serbs did not ask for a political autonomy but that they wanted eastern Slavonia to be county as a whole, according to the Serbian state-run media. (hina) mš 171038 MET nov 96