PRESIDENT MESIC VISITS SPRING AGRICULTURAL FAIR IN OSIJEK

OSIJEK, March 9 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic on Friday visited the Spring Fair of Agriculture, Food Manufacture and Craftsmanship in Osijek, which has gathered some 60 Croatian and 13 exhibitors from Yugoslavia's province of Vojvodina. Mesic was especially interested in the exhibitions of "Osijek" and "Belje" agricultural conglomerates, Croatian Forests and Vojvodina manufacturers. Production is a major opportunity for the future, President Mesic said after his tour of the three pavilions. Asked by reporters what will happen to Croats in Bosnia-Herzegovina if the local Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) does not give up from the Croat self-rule project, Mesic said "Nothing will happen to Croats, and the HDZ will cease to exist as a party". Commenting on the decision of the Bosnian HDZ not to accept the international community's dismissal of HDZ president Ante Jelavic as the Croat member of the Bosnian Presidency, Mesic said he "already relayed a clear message (to Bosnian Croats) that those who are doing this are leading them into an isolation which has never brought any good to anyone". Ultimatums can solve nothing. Even if the offered solution emanating from the international community is not the best possible, negotiations should be used to reach a better solution, but not through ultimatums, Mesic asserted. (hina) lml