SARAJEVO, March 5 (Hina) - Croatia's and Bosnia-Herzegovina's Foreign Ministers Tonino Picula and Mladen Ivanic on Wednesday signed a bilateral agreement in Sarajevo concerning cross-border traffic and co-operation. The two ministers
announced that a solution could be found soon for the long-standing dispute over the southern Croatian seaport of Ploce.
SARAJEVO, March 5 (Hina) - Croatia's and Bosnia-Herzegovina's
Foreign Ministers Tonino Picula and Mladen Ivanic on Wednesday
signed a bilateral agreement in Sarajevo concerning cross-border
traffic and co-operation. The two ministers announced that a
solution could be found soon for the long-standing dispute over the
southern Croatian seaport of Ploce. #L#
The Bosnian minister said the two governments would soon propose
the signing of a special protocol that would determine a new
composition of the committee that manages the Ploce Port.
"It is our opinion that relations between our countries have
improved recently and it is not necessary to introduce a seventh
member to the committee" Ivanic told journalists stressing that
this could make room for the elimination of the provision in the
existing agreement according to which a seventh member on the
committee should be a foreigner who would have the authority of an
arbitrator should a dispute arise between Croatian and Bosnian
parties.
The protocol would be ratified by the Croatian Sabor together with
the Agreement which would then remove the greatest barrier to
implement the agreement. Sarajevo has until now insisted that the
Agreement be ratified and then changed however Minister Ivanic
hinted that the attitude in Bosnia had eased up somewhat.
Ivanic and Picula fully agreed that it was high time the Ploce port
and with that the Pan-European 5C corridor were finally put into
function and given the significance they deserved.
The two foreign ministers believe that the cross-border agreement
is exceptionally important.
The deal foresees the establishment of 25 cross-border crossing of
which 12 would be open his Thursday for residents who live along the
boundary. Residents will be able to cross the border with special
passes which should make matters easier for them.
Minister Picula described his two-day visit to that neighbouring
country as very productive and useful, explaining that he informed
his hosts in detail of Croatia's application for its membership of
the European Union.
Picula highlighted the regional dimension of Croatia's candidacy
for which, as he said, support from neighbouring countries was
expected while at the same time offering assistance so that those
countries too could become members of the EU as soon as possible.
(hina) sp ms sb