RACAN HOLDS TALKS WITH MOSTAR MAYOR, DEPUTY MAYOR

MOSTAR, July 28 (Hina) - Commenting on his Friday meeting with Mostar Mayor and Deputy Mayor Safet Orucevic and Neven Tomic respectively, Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said he strongly supported positive processes in Mostar and efforts aimed at normalising the situation in the town. Racan said the new Croatian authority wanted to cooperate with Mostar to the benefit of all, and particularly the Croat people. #L# According to Racan, the new Croatian authorities will not neglect Mostar and Bosnia-Herzegovina or Bosnian Croats, but their cooperation and assistance will be different than the assistance provided by the former authorities. "We will assist and support all those who - unlike the former policy of conflict, misunderstanding and mistrust - are ready to build the bridges of cooperation, dialogue and tolerance," Racan said. The Croatian premier comfirmed that Croatia would join in the reconstruction of Mostar's Old Bridge, which was destroyed during the Croat-Muslim conflict in 1993. Asked whether Croatia would process those who had torn down the bridge, Racan said it will mean much if "we are able to, in the name of culture, civilisation and tolerance, together condemn those who destroyed the Old Bridge." He added that establishing criminal liability for the destruction of the Old Bridge should be the task of judicial and investigative bodies. Racan said he had agreed with Orucevic and Tomic that Mostar and Croatia should together seek a loan from the World Bank for the financing of a water treatment system for the Neretva River. This is a major investment but it is of common interest because the Neretva also runs through Croatia and flows into the Adriatic Sea, Racan said. It was also agreed at today's meeting that Croatia should finance the equipment of a Mostar office for refugee return. Commenting on a recent request by a group of members of the Croatian University Senate in Mostar demanding the replacement of Professor Marko Tadic, who was criticised for advocating the re- establishment of cooperation with 'Dzemal Bijedic' University in the eastern part of the city, Racan said his government would support all those contributing to cooperation and tolerance. Mostar Mayor Safet Orucevic said he expected the new Croatian authorities to help in replacing members of the old system in the Mostar area and appoint new officials. Orucevic said he had personally asked Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula that the new consul to Mostar be an open person and a friend of Mostar, who would contribute to establishing good relations between Mostar and friendly Croatia. Orucevic's deputy Neven Tomic said Racan's visit to Mostar and Bosnia-Herezegovina is very important for dispelling the misconception that Bosnian Croats have been left on their own after the January election in Croatia. After the talks with the Mostar city officials, Racan took a walk on Mostar's streets. (hina) rml