ECONOMIC ACCORD IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESSING BETTER THAN EXPECTED

ZAGREB, Feb 2 (Hina) - The implementation of the 2 December 1994 economic agreement between the Croatian government and local Serb authorities was progressing better than expected, UN spokesman Michael Williams said in Zagreb today. Williams added that both sides contributed to this progress because the implementation would not be possible without mutual cooperation. He expressed regret that it could not have been achieved earlier. UN spokesman Paul Risley told reporters that some 60 thousand vehicles had used the Zagreb-Lipovac highway to travel through UN Sector West since the road was reopened, without any major incident recorded. Risley said equipment for the Obrovac hydroelectric power plant had been tested and transported to its destination for installation. The implementation of two of the six projects for the restoration of water supplies inside UN-protected areas was expected to begin in the next few weeks, he added. The restoration of the high-voltage power transmission grid through the zone of separation was under negotiation, Risley said. Williams said representatives of Croatian Railways and local Serbs had held a successful meeting in Novska on Wednesday to discuss the resumption of railway traffic under the economic agreement. (hina) mm vm 021842 MET feb 95