PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MESIC HOLDS TALKS WITH FOREIGN AMBASSADORS

ZAGREB, Jan 31 (Hina) - Presidential candidate Stipe Mesic on Monday held separate talks with the Bosnian ambassador to Croatia, and with ambassadors from Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. Croatia will develop good neighbourly and friendly relations with Bosnia-Herzegovina (BH), Mesic told reporters after talks with Bosnian Ambassador Hasan Muratovic. "We will open all channels of cooperation, especially in view of the fact that in BH we have Croats as one of three constituent peoples who have to be a bridge of cooperation, and not division," said Mesic, adding Croatia and BH had a joint past, compatible trade, and joint roads. "We will always assist Croats in BH, but we don't want structures like Herceg-Bosna," he asserted, adding talks with Muratovic also tackled the return of refugees and displaced persons who have to return to pre-war homes throughout BH because, he said, it was a problem Croatia and BH shared. Speaking about his talks with the ambassadors of Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary, Mesic said, "with (those countries) we must establish very close cooperation, because Croatia's isolation has had its day." "We must open paths to realise our strategic goals, access to the European Union and NATO," he said. (hina) ha