CROATIA NOT REACHED DECISION ON OPENING CONSULATE IN BANJA LUKA

ZAGREB, April 20 (Hina) - Because of the insecure situation in the region, Croatia cannot say when it will open a consulate in Banja Luka in the Bosnian Serb entity of Republika Srpska, Croatian Foreign Ministry spokesman Zeljko Trkanjec said on Tuesday. Subsequent to the start of NATO strikes on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia at the end of March, protesters against the strikes in Banja Luka targeted diplomatic representation offices of Germany and the United States, as well as UNHCR offices. Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic held talks in Zagreb on Monday with the High international Representative for Bosnia- Herzegovina, Carlos Westendorp, about Croatia's problems with regards to opening a consulate general in Banja Luka. Croatia has announced it would open consulates in Banja Luka in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Subotica (Vojvodina) and Kotor (Montenegro) in FR Yugoslavia by this summer. Considering the current security situation emanating from the NATO military action in FR Yugoslavia, it is difficult to expect this deadline to be fulfilled. Trkanjec said Westendorp had been asked to assist in removing obstacles surrounding the opening of a consulate in Banja Luka. Asked whether Croatia continued to provide consular services in Banja Luka during so-called consular days, Trkanjec replied diplomatic representation offices in Bosnia-Herzegovina were performing their duties regularly. (hina) lml jn