SIX ANNEXES TO AGREEMENT ON SPECIAL RELATIONS HARMONISED

SARAJEVO, July 2 (Hina) - Representatives of the governments of the Republic of Croatia and the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina led by Minister Milan Kovac and Premier Edhem Bicakcic on Friday harmonised their views on six annexes to the Agreement on Special Relations. As advised by Premier Bicakcic following the negotiations in Sarajevo, a complete agreement was reached on the annexes relating to mutual pension payments; to determine the method of taking on beneficiaries and the payment of expenses for placement in social welfare institutes; to determine cooperation on culture; protection from natural disasters; to determine forms of economic cooperation and cooperation in the field of energy. All these annexes, according to Bicakcic, will be sent immediately for regular adoption procedures while Croatia and the BH Federation will continue negotiations on a further four annexes which currently do not need to be harmonised. "We have advanced a fair way and I believe that we will manage to harmonise the remaining annexes, as our differences are not great", Bicakcic said. Minister Milan Kovac, the Croatian Government's minister responsible for cooperation with Bosnia-Herzegovina and the BH Federation, explained that he expected an agreement to be reached on the remaining four annexes by the end of July. Before then, it will be necessary to conduct a meeting of the Council for Cooperation between Croatia and the BH Federation and perhaps even a meeting of the Inter-State Council for Cooperation. Responding to a question by journalists, Kovac said that he was optimistic with regard to an agreement being reached on trade cooperation between Croatia and BH. "We're very interested in that agreement to be signed as soon as possible because this would be of mutual economic interest for both countries. I hope that this can be conducted at the meeting of the International Council for Cooperation", said Minister Kovac reminding of the detriment of such an agreement not being in place. Premier Bicakcic recalled that this is a problem being attended to at the state level in BH however, he emphasised that his country was interested in an agreement which would be based on regulations set by the World Trade Organisation. According to him, this would open further market space for BH on Croatia's market. (hina) sp