U.S. ENCOURAGED BY STEPS TO DRAFT A NEW U.N. MANDATE FOR CROATIA

WASHINGTON, March 14 (Hina) - The US administration was encouraged by initial steps in drafting a new UN mandate for Croatia, US Assistant Secretary of State Robert Frasure said today. Frasure told a press conference in Washington that he was encouraged by the beginning of consultations in the UN Security Council. He said that the efforts of the United States and the United Nations were aimed at extending the UNPROFOR mandate for Bosnia- Herzegovina and drafting a special resolution on a new mandate for Croatia which would solve specific aspects of the UN operation in Croatia. Asked how many UN troops would be posted along Croatia's borders with Serbia and Bosnia, Frasure said a significant number of UN troops would be deployed along the borders. The forces would not be in a position to physically close the borders, he said, adding that it was a reality which everybody accepted. Frasure said he expected a solution acceptable to all parties would be found in several weeks. He stressed it was very important that Croatian President Tudjman's had agreed that UN peacekeepers should remain in the separation zone. Frasure dded that a UN withdrawal would inevitably lead to a deterioration in the situation and to the resumption of war. (Hina) mm vm 142116 MET mar 95