Topic: voa Subject: BALKANS NAME GAME (L ONLY) By ELAINE JOHANSON/UNITED NATIONS From: "Demetrios E. Paneras" DATE=3/30/95 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-176355 TITLE= BALKANS NAME GAME (L ONLY) BYLINE=ELAINE JOHANSON DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: EFFORTS TO RENEW THE UNITED NATIONS OPERATION IN THE BALKANS STUMBLED THURSDAY OVER WHAT TO NAME THE FORCE IN CROATIA. THE SECURITY COUNCIL IS RACING AGAINST A FRIDAY DEADLINE WHEN THE PEACEKEEPING MANDATE EXPIRES. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS: TEXT: YOU MIGHT ASK, "WHAT'S IN A NAME"? THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT WOULD SAY -- JUST ABOUT ALL THE PRINCIPLES IT STANDS FOR IN ITS CONFLICT WITH THE REBEL SERBS. THE UNITED NATIONS HAS SUGGESTED NAMING THE NEW FORCE FOR CROATIA -- THE U-N CONFIDENCE RESTORATION OPERATION, WHICH WOULD BE KNOWN BY ITS ACRONYM UNCRO. ZAGREB IS INSISTING THAT THE WORD "CROATIA" BE INCLUDED IN THE OFFICIAL NAME AS A WAY OF ASSERTING ITS TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY AGAINST SEPARATIST AIMS IN SERB-OCCUPIED KRAJINA. CROATIA'S BORDERS ARE NOT IN DISPUTE IN THE SECURITY COUNCIL. BUT MEMBERS HAD HOPED TO AVOID INFLAMING SERB SENSITIVITIES UNNECESSARILY WHILE PEACE EFFORTS ARE UNDERWAY. DIPLOMATS LATE THURSDAY WENT BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD TO FIND A COMPROMISE, AMID LAST-MINUTE HOPES THAT CROATIA WOULD WITHDRAW ITS OBJECTION. MEANWHILE, THE COUNCIL IS POISED TO ADOPT THREE RESOLUTIONS THAT WOULD SIGNIFY THE END OF THE U-N OPERATION IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA AS IT HAS EXISTED SINCE 1992. UNPROFOR WOULD BE BROKEN UP INTO THREE SEPARATE FORCES, EACH WITH ITS OWN COMMAND BUT UNDER THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF A U-N CIVILIAN. THE CROATIAN FORCE WOULD BE REDUCED FROM ITS PRESENT STRENGTH OF 12-THOUSAND, WITH BORDER DEPLOYMENT TO DISCOURAGE SMUGGLING OF MILITARY SUPPLIES TO THE REBEL SERBS. THE OPERATIONS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA AND MACEDONIA WOULD REMAIN UNCHANGED. THE RESOLUTIONS, HOWEVER, ARE ONLY THE FIRST STEP. U-N OFFICIALS WILL STILL HAVE TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE CROATIANS ON THE SIZE OF THE NEW FORCE. WESTERN DIPLOMATS SAY A MINIMUM OF EIGHT THOUSAND TROOPS ARE REQUIRED TO PATROL CEASEFIRE LINES AND MONITOR CROATIA'S INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARIES. CROATIA IN JANUARY ORDERED THE PEACEKEEPERS OUT BY THE END OF MARCH. PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN RELUCTANTLY CHANGED HIS MIND UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE UNITED STATES AND GERMANY, PROVIDED THE SECURITY COUNCIL MAKES THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS. (SIGNED) NEB/PT 30-Mar-95 7:15 PM EST (0015 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America ------------------------------------------------------------------------------