CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVES E.U. TROIKA AMBASSADORS

ZAGREB, Dec 31 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic on Tuesday received the ambassadors of Italy, Great Britain and the Netherlands to Zagreb, who represented the European Union troika, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Granic informed the ambassadors about Monday's talks between Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and the UN Transitional Administrator of the Danube river region, General Jacques Klein, who agreed that local elections in the UN-administered part of the Eastern Slavonia region would be held on 16 March 1997 simultaneously with elections in other parts of Croatia. President Tudjman and General Klein agreed that the Croatian government and the UN Transitional Administration in Eastern Slavonia (UNTAES) would sign a memorandum of understanding. Granic said that the memorandum, which would primarily focus on the additional protection of minority rights and the organization of government in the region in line with the Croatian Constitution, would provide additional guarantees for the continuation of the peaceful reintegration process. The ambassadors expressed satisfaction with the agreement, noting that it represented a strong message to the local Serb population about positive efforts by the Croatian government to peacefully reintegrate the region into Croatia's administrative system. They reiterated the willingness of their governments and the European Union to provide full support for the process, the statement concluded. (hina) vm 311326 MET dec 96