ZAGREB, Aug 9 (Hina)- Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula and the international community's High Representative to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Paddy Ashdown, on Friday spoke over the phone and estimated that a decision by the Bosnian
Council of Ministers relating to the border crossing at Hrvatska Kostajnica - Bosanska Kostajnica was encouragement to further development in all-round relations between the two countries, the Croatian Foreign Ministry (MVP) reported.
ZAGREB, Aug 9 (Hina)- Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula and
the international community's High Representative to Bosnia-
Herzegovina, Paddy Ashdown, on Friday spoke over the phone and
estimated that a decision by the Bosnian Council of Ministers
relating to the border crossing at Hrvatska Kostajnica - Bosanska
Kostajnica was encouragement to further development in all-round
relations between the two countries, the Croatian Foreign Ministry
(MVP) reported. #L#
The Croatian Foreign Ministry on Friday received a note from the
Bosnian Foreign Ministry which reports that the Bosnian government
(i.e. ministerial council) adopted an annex to an agreement on the
joint location of a border crossing at Hrvatska Kostajnica -
Bosanska Kostajnica with the technical solution for the temporary
opening of the crossing which will currently only serve passenger
traffic.
The Council of Ministers proposed that expert teams from both
countries should meet within 15 days and come up with a complete
project for a final solution for the said border crossing in the six
months' time in compliance with a protocol that Sarajevo
suggested.
The Croatian Ministry in a reply note to Bosnia expressed its
satisfaction that the Council of Ministers adopted the annex
relating to the joint location for that border crossing.
The Croatian government, like the Council of Ministers, believes
that all issues relating to the construction and opening of that
border crossing should be resolved through agreement.
Construction works on the crossing will commence on Monday, August
12, 2002, the Ministry's statement notes.
With regard to the adoption of the annex on the commencement of
construction works at the crossing, Minister Picula forwarded a
letter to Maritime Affairs, Transportation and Communications
Minister Ronald Zuvanic in which he proposes a period of 15 days for
an expert team to be formed and to work together with Bosnian
colleagues on a proposal to resolve long term traffic issues over
the crossing. The Transport Ministry will be responsible for the
project.
(hina) sp ms