FUTURE NEGOTIATIONS ON SUCCESSION DEPEND ON YU STAND - OFFICIAL

BRUSSELS, Jan 26 (Hina) - The head of the Croatian government's office for succession, Bozo Marendic, on Tuesday said in Brussels the future of negotiations on succession to the former Yugoslav federation depended on the standpoint of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY). Marendic added that in the next month, Belgrade had to show whether it was a serious partner in future negotiations. Heading a Croatian delegation, Marendic today held talks with the international mediator for issues surrounding succession to the former Yugoslavia, Arthur Watts. The talks were part of a new negotiating round on the division of the former federation's property. "The future of the negotiations depends on FRY; if Belgrade's response to the series of questions vital for the succession process is serious and responsible (...) and if it (responds) in a month or a month and a half, we will consider it a serious partner and that we are continuing," Marendic said. Delegations of successor states to the former Yugoslav federation were considering a "sketch" succession document, Marendic said, adding the elements of the succession mass had considerably narrowed. The document also avoids the definition of state property and the date of the break-up of the former Yugoslavia. (hina) ha mm