GRANIC HANDS MURATOVIC ANNEXES TO AGREEMENT ON SPECIAL RELATIONS

ZAGREB, Feb 26 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic on Friday handed to the Ambassador of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Hasan Muratovic, the drafts of twelve annexes to the Agreement on Special Relations between Croatia and the Bosnian Federation, adopted by the Croatian Government at Thursday's session. Granic stressed relevant ministries were working on other annexes to the Agreement which would soon be handed to the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina via usual diplomatic courses, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Granic expressed concern and anxiety of the Croatian Government for delaying the ratification of the Agreement on Special Relations at the Bosnian Federation Parliament. Muratovic said ratification was necessary at the Parliament, and further problems or delays could not be expected. Both sides agreed they expected assistance from the High Representative to Bosnia-Herzegovina. Granic and Muratovic expressed wish for the timely session of the Joint Council for Cooperation between Croatia and the Bosnian Federation, but notwithstanding the date of the session, relevant federal bodies should immediately discuss the drafts of the annexes. Granic reiterated hope that the signing of a trade agreement between Croatia and the Croat-Moslem Bosnian Federation as soon as possible would additionally assist the further development of friendly and good neighbourly relations between Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. He stressed the importance of further undisturbed work of the Interstate Diplomatic Commission for Borders. Muratovic informed Granic that relevant Bosnian Federation ministries were working on draft annexes to the Agreement on Special Relations, and that Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Minister Mirsad Kurtovic had been authorised by the Bosnia- Herzegovina Council of Ministers to lead negotiations on trade between the two countries. (hina) lml mm