GENERAL PRALJAK ON THE FALL OF VARES

MOSTAR, Nov 6 (HABENA/Hina) - Commenting on the withdrawal of the HVO forces from Vares, the commander of the Croatian Defence Council (HVO), General Slobodan Praljak, said in an interview with Herzeg-Bosnian Radio on Saturday that "HVO soliders did not actually defend Vares, but surrendered it without firing a single bullet." "This, of course, is a tragedy for Croats," said General Praljak, "but I maintain that wherever we fought, we never lost anything." "As for central Bosnia and our towns such as Travnik, Novi Travnik, Busovaca and Vitez, those fellows are fighters and they will survive there," said General Praljak. (END) m-vm 062136 MET nov 93