PICULA, LAGUMDZIJA ON CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES IN BOSNIA

ZAGREB, Jan 16 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula held an informal meeting with the chairman of the Bosnian Council of Ministers, Zlatko Lagumdzija, in Zagreb on Tuesday. The two officials discussed the upcoming constitutional reform in Bosnia-Herzegovina, in which Croatia is particularly interested, the Croatian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The Ministry stressed that Croatia, as a signatory to the Dayton Agreement, is particularly interested in the upcoming constitutional changes in Bosnia. Lagumdzija and Picula agree that the implementation of the Bosnian Constitutional Court's decision stipulating that all three peoples are constituent throughout Bosnia will contribute to the stabilisation of the situation in the country. Picula and Lagumdzija decided that the two countries' relations were on an ascending line. Picula stressed it was important that the existing agreements be completed as soon as possible, the statement read. According to the statement, the Croatian minister held talks over the phone with High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch who explained a part of his statement given to Bosnian media in which he commented on the process of constitutional reforms in Bosnia and the standpoints of some Croat politicians. Petritsch said the carrying out of the Constitutional Court decisons would not have a negative effect on the Croat people. The High Representative stressed he was ready to give additional explanations and accepted an invitation of Minstar Picula to visit Zagreb. Picula said the Croatian government was monitoring the process of constitutional changes in Bosnia which, in his opinion, would strengthen democratic processes. (hina) it