PICULA, PRLIC: A NEW PERIOD IN CROATIA-BOSNIA RELATIONS BEGINS

SARAJEVO, Feb 11 (Hina) - Croatian and Bosnian foreign ministers Tonino Picula and Jadranko Prlic respectively on Friday announced the beginning of a new period in relations between the two countries, to be based on their common wish for eliminating political obstacles that have existed so far. Addressing a news conference in Sarajevo at the end of official talks with members of the BH Presidency, Council of Ministers, and the Government of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Picula said there was no doubt that the two countries were very interested in improving mutual relations and in making up for some unresolved issues which still burdened relations between Zagreb and Sarajevo. "In dealing with one of its priority issues - the establishment of good relations with its neighbours - the Croatian Government can undertake to pay special attention to the development of relations with neighbouring Bosnia-Herzegovina," Picula said. The Croatian official said the largest part of the list of unresolved questions with other countries referred to those with Bosnia-Herzegovina and their resolution could not be stalled any more. The new Croatian authority will see that progress is made in relations with Bosnia already in the next six months. "We will conduct such a policy which will remove prejudices, both those toward Bosnia-Herzegovina and toward its components," Picula said, adding improving relations with Bosnia could be the most important argument in Croatia's talks with the European Union. According to Picula, it is very important that Bosnia, too, is interested in following the dynamics in foreign policy the Zagreb authorities were trying to achieve. Croatia remains committed to the Dayton agreement because it determines the foundations of the Bosnian state. The Dayton agreement cannot be revised until it is fully implemented, Picula said. He dismissed claims that the Croatian government would cancel any kind of support for Bosnian Croats, adding assistance would continue on the social, cultural and education filed, however, in a different form, with full control by the Croatian National Sabor. Picula reiterated Croatia's commitment to the implementation of the existing agreements on special relations with the BH Federation. Bosnian Foreign Minister Jadranko Prlic said Croatian Premier Ivica Racan was expected to visit Bosnia very soon, which would be an opportunity for holding a session of the Council for Cooperation between Croatia and the Federation, to be followed by a session of the Council for Cooperation between Croatia and Bosnia- Herzegovina. Prlic also said that today's talks helped confirm priorities to be dealt with this year. Bosnia-Herzegovina expects Croatia to take measures which will encourage the return of Croatian Serb refugees, which will trigger off the process of return in the whole region. It also expects that Bosniaks be reintroduced in the Croatian Constitution as a minority, Prlic said. Recalling that the two countries have signed 29 agreements and protocols so far, Prlic said efforts had to be invested to improve their economic cooperation. A new agreement on economic cooperation could go in force as early as the beginning of July. Property relations, social insurance, and dual citizenship are expected to be regulated in the course of this year as well. "We share the same priorities in foreign policy," Prlic said, adding the two countries would exchange their experience regarding their cooperation with the EU and western defence associations. The two ministers today signed a protocol on cooperation between their ministries. (hina) rml