IZETBEGOVIC SAYS OFFER OF HERZEGOVINA TO TUDJMAN WASN'T SERIOUS

SARAJEVO, Feb 6 (Hina) - The former chairman of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency, Alija Izetbegovic, confirmed on Wednesday he had discussed the possible annexation of western Herzegovina to Croatia with former Croatian President Franjo Tudjman, but stressed it had never been "a serious offer". Reacting to a statement in which the head of the UN mission in Bosnia, Jacques Klein, told Croatian Television (HTV) that Izetbegovic and the late Tudjman had openly negotiated dividing Bosnia, the long-standing Bosniak political leader said in a letter published by the Sarajevo daily Oslobodjenje this had been "part of political outwitting". "It's true that in one conversation with Tudjman I offered western Herzegovina but it's also true that the offer was never serious," said Izetbegovic, adding the offer had been made in order to reveal Tudjman's real intentions about Bosnia. Tudjman allegedly told Izetbegovic he wanted much more than western Herzegovina, including Mostar and Stolac. "I smiled at that and answered: you have betrayed yourself, Mr President. You indeed want a part of Bosnia", said Izetbegovic. Izetbegovic wonders is there anyone who believes Tudjman would have refused to take a part of Bosnia had it been really offered and not have shouted about it from the rooftops. (hina) np