CROATIAN DIPLOMATS HAND LETTER OF INTENT TO BOSNIAN AUTHORITIES

SARAJEVO, Aug 22 (Hina) - Croatian diplomats in Sarajevo on Friday handed to Bosnian officials a letter of intent of the Croatian government regarding the construction of the section of the Budapest-Ploce highway running through Bosnia-Herzegovina. #L# The charge d'affaires of the Croatian Embassy in the Bosnian capital, Ivan Velimir Starcevic, handed the letter of intent to Bosnian Assistant Foreign Minister Krunoslav Vasilj. In line with diplomatic practice, the Foreign Ministry of Bosnia- Herzegovina will forward the letter to the Council of Ministers, which is expected to issue an official response to the offer. The letter reads that Croatia is ready to assist in the first stage of making documentation needed to announce a public tender for the construction of the highway section running through Bosnia- Herzegovina. According to earlier statements, the Croatian government is ready to support Croatian companies interested in bidding for the contract. Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said yesterday that he hoped Bosnia-Herzegovina would see Croatia's move as that of a good neighbour. Croatia's plans to send a letter of intent were met with mixed feelings in Sarajevo, ranging from extremely negative to reserved. The chairman of the Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, who in an interview with "Dnevni avaz" daily of Thursday bluntly stated that Racan should not worry about Bosnia-Herzegovina, subsequently tried to tone down his statement. He said that he had talked to Racan over the phone on Thursday and that the media were unnecessarily creating tensions regarding the highway. Both Terzic and Transport and Communications Minister Branko Dokic have confirmed in their latest statements to the local media that Croatia's offer will be carefully considered. (hina) rml