CROATIA'S GRANIC COMMENTS ON OPENING OF IVANICA-BRGAT CROSSING

ZAGREB, Aug 25 (Hina) - The opening of the Ivanica border crossing between Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina represents Croatia's long- term interests to become an open country and to soon fully join European associations, Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic said in Zagreb Wednesday following talks with a delegation of the town of Dubrovnik (south Adriatic) and Dubrovnik-Neretva County. Granic stressed the border crossing did not only relate to the Croatian and Bosnian towns of Dubrovnik and Trebinje, but to the two countries. There will be no development of friendly relations until the Trebinje authorities apologise to the residents of Dubrovnik for war crimes, and those who committed them, such as Bozidar Vucurevic, end up in The Hague before the international war crimes tribunal. Granic recalled that 18 border crossings have so far been opened between Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, six of which are in Dubrovnik-Neretva County. He stressed this border crossing had been opened in line with the signed border agreement between the two countries, and that Croatia, as a member of the Stability Pact, is obliged to open up its borders. (hina) lml