CROATIAN, BOSNIAN PREMIERS DISCUSS OPEN ISSUES, SITUATION IN REGION

ZAGREB, March 14 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan on Friday spoke with the chairman of the Bosnian Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, about open issues between the two countries, the situation in the region and their prospects of joining the European Union. The two expressed a wish for fruitful bilateral relations to continue. #L# "There are many reasons for us to cooperate and solve open issues through cooperation," said Racan after the meeting, which he described as "fruitful". Terzic said they had agreed that the solving of some outstanding issues had come to a standstill. "We agreed that delegations in charge of all open issues, including the Ploce port and dual citizenship, begin talks as soon as possible," said Terzic. "We are also interested in the Ploce port issue to be finally resolved," said Racan. He stressed that "Croatia is open to Bosnian citizens" and that Bosnian citizens would be able to enter Croatia with their ID cards. He added that the issue should be regulated in the next several days. Regarding the countries' European prospects, Racan said "the Europe-oriented Croatia is interested in Bosnia's European prospect". Terzic said Bosnia hailed the path which Croatia had embarked on by applying for EU membership, and added that Bosnia "wants to go on this path with all its heart". Racan expressed satisfaction with the fact that Terzic's first visit was to Croatia, and added that he had accepted an invitation to visit Sarajevo as soon as this year. The two officials expressed concern about the most recent events in the region i.e. the assassination of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic. The two expressed hope that the new situation would not undermine regional stability and that democratic forces in Serbia would find an optimal solution to it. (hina) lml sb