SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT

NEW YORK, Feb 7 (Hina) - The UN Security Council issued a presidential statement on Tuesday calling on the Government of the Republic of Croatia and local Serb authorities in the UN Protected Areas to "enter urgently and without preconditions into negotiations", benefiting from proposals now made to them by the international community (Z-4 Group's plan). The Security Council expressed its desire for the Croatian Government to reconsider its decision to end UNPROFOR's current mandate. In the statement the UN SC reiterates its support for efforts to bring about a political settlement in the Republic of Croatia which ensures full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Croatia and which guarantees the security and rights of all communities living in a particular area irrespective whether they constitute in this area the majority or a minority. The Security Council reaffirms its commitment to the search for an overall negotiated settlement of the conflict in the former Yugoslavia ensuring the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all States there within their internationally recognized borders and stresses the importance it attaches to the mutual recognition thereof. The Security Council reaffirms its view that UNPROFOR's continued and effective presence in the Republic of Croatia is of vital importance for regional peace and security. Therefore it expresses its desire that discussion over the weeks will lead the Government of Croatia to re-examine its position taken on 12 January 1995 in relation to the continuing role of UNPROFOR in the Republic of Croatia. (hina) jn mms 072118 MET feb 95