BOSNIAN COUNCIL OF MINISTERS BANS IMPORT OF OIL FROM CROATIA

SARAJEVO, Jan 17 (Hina) - Bosnia's Council of Ministers passed a decision on Thursday evening banning the import of oil and oil products by road from Croatia as of Jan. 20. A statement delivered to Hina in Sarajevo read the decision represented Bosnia and Herzegovina's answer to "the discriminatory decision of neighbouring Croatia," which banned oil transport by road through its territory. The Council of Ministers is ready to reach in direct negotiations with senior Croatian officials next week an adequate solution which would be of mutual interest. If no such solution is reached, Bosnia will introduce on Jan. 27 a temporary ban on the import of oil and oil products manufactured in or exported by companies based in Croatia. The decision will not refer to oil and oil products reaching Bosnia via the southern Croatian seaport of Ploce. In the next seven days Bosnia's Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Ministry has to prepare solutions on changes to the regime of trade in high tariff goods in Bosnia. The Council of Ministers said the Croatian Foreign Ministry had notified the Bosnian Foreign Ministry Croatia was willing to seek the appropriate solutions and reaching an agreement in the shortest time possible. A Croatian delegation is ready to arrive in Bosnia for negotiations on the 21st. (hina) ha