YUGOSLAVIA SIGNS SPECIAL RELATIONS AGREEMENT WITH BOSNIA'S SERBS

SARAJEVO/BANJA LUKA, March 5 (Hina) - The presidents of Yugoslavia and Bosnia's Serb republic, Vojislav Kostunica and Mirko Sarovic, on Monday signed an agreement on the establishment of special and parallel relations between Yugoslavia and Republika Srpska (RS). The agreement was signed in Banja Luka, the Bosnian Serb capital, and is based on provisions of the Dayton peace accords. As regards contents, it is almost identical to the one Croatia signed in December 1998 with Bosnia's other entity, the Croat-Muslim federation. The introduction of the agreement, finalised under supervision of the international community's High Representative in Bosnia, stipulates the obligation of the two signatories to fully comply with provisions of the Dayton accords and help in their implementation. It also says the Belgrade-Banja Luka special relations will rely on the respect of Bosnia's integrity as an independent state. The agreement also envisages the establishment of a permanent council for Yugoslavia-RS cooperation, as well as the obligation to consult the Office of the High Representative in drawing up annexes which will define concrete aspects of cooperation in the future. Bosnia's Foreign Minister Zlatko Lagumdzija and Bosnian Serb deputy parliamentary speaker Sulejman Tihic were not present at the signing. Lagumdzija said earlier it was inappropriate to sign the agreement during Bayram, the Muslim holidays. (hina) ha