ZAGREB, March 18 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic and the United Nations secretary-general's special envoy for Bosnia-Herzegovina, Jacques Klein, on Saturday discussed the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina and its neighbourhood.
Speaking to the press after the talks, Klein said there was a number of reasons for his being in Zagreb. "We have to find a way to expedite the Croatian returns of displaced persons and refugees to Bosnia-Herzegovina. I think everyone understands that Bosnia-Herzegovina can only work if the Croat population returns back. That is absolutely essential," he said. According to Klein, President Mesic was right when he said "that there will always be a strong relationship between Zagreb and the Croat population in BH, that it's a constructive one, it's a transparent one, it's one of culture, of religion, of language, and tradition." "We want to build on that and we want to do away with
ZAGREB, March 18 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic and the
United Nations secretary-general's special envoy for Bosnia-
Herzegovina, Jacques Klein, on Saturday discussed the situation in
Bosnia-Herzegovina and its neighbourhood.
Speaking to the press after the talks, Klein said there was a number
of reasons for his being in Zagreb.
"We have to find a way to expedite the Croatian returns of displaced
persons and refugees to Bosnia-Herzegovina. I think everyone
understands that Bosnia-Herzegovina can only work if the Croat
population returns back. That is absolutely essential," he said.
According to Klein, President Mesic was right when he said "that
there will always be a strong relationship between Zagreb and the
Croat population in BH, that it's a constructive one, it's a
transparent one, it's one of culture, of religion, of language, and
tradition."
"We want to build on that and we want to do away with the old sub rosa
structures that existed before," Klein asserted, adding he "also
received some guidance on how (President Mesic) thinks we can be
more helpful."
The talks also tackled "the issue of illegal immigration. Bosnia-
Herzegovina is a transient point for much of the Middle East and
Asia," Klein said, adding "we have the issues of drug smuggling, so
we have to talk about the borders."
According to Igor Dekanic, the Croatian president's adviser on
internal affairs, three points were made during the Mesic-Klein
talks.
"The basic principle is for the entire region to develop and join
European integration as soon as possible. Then, an accelerated
return of displaced persons and refugees is essential, and it must
be the basic principle for the regulation of relations in Bosnia-
Herzegovina and neighbouring countries. Furthermore, support was
given to all approaches which will lead to progress in Bosnia-
Herzegovina and its joining development processes in South
Europe," Dekanic told the press.
"In this sense, President Mesic and General Klein said they
understood Croatia's position and the administration headed by the
U.S. diplomat," he concluded.
Klein arrived in Zagreb on Friday when he held talks with the
ministers of foreign affairs and the interior.
(hina) ha