GRANIC HOLDS TALKS WITH KINKEL AND VEDRINE

( Editorial: --> 0657 ) ZAGREB, March 18 (Hina) - The main topics of Wednesday's talks between Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic and his German and French counterparts, Klaus Kinkel and Hubert Vedrine, were the situation in the Croatian Danube River region, Croatia's cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), the implementation of the Dayton agreements and the return of refugees. After a one-hour meeting, Granic told reporters that he and his guests also discussed Croatia's expectations from the European Union, primarily in regard to the PHARE program and an agreement on cooperation with the EU. Kinkel and Vedrine arrived in the Croatian capital for a one-day official visit on Wednesday afternoon. They said that they came to Croatia to convey not only requests and expectations but also a clear message that those who cooperated and wanted to work with Europe in a constructive spirit would get their help in getting closer to the EU. "Croatia is a European country and we recognise its legitimacy in that sense," said Vedrine, adding however that, "the key to Zagreb getting closer to the EU is in Croatia's hands". Kinkel and Vedrine stressed that Croatia should pay attention not only to the return of refugees to eastern Croatia but also to the return of Serbs who left the former Serb self-styled state in the occupied areas, the so-called Krajina. "We expect the announcement of a public and concrete concept of return of refugees, including the Serbs who left Krajina," Vedrine said. Kinkel also said that "a clear concept by the Croatian authorities on the return is of extreme importance". Granic stressed that 33,000 Serbs had returned to their homes in Croatia. Croatia expects the international community to offer help for reconstruction at the donors' conference, to be held on 18 and 19 May, Granic said. Croatia is ready to continue its policy which led to the successful reintegration of the Danubian region. "This means full security in the Danubian region for all citizens, the complete implementation of the Amnesty Law and Law Adjustment Act, and the two-way return without any hesitation," the Croatian Foreign Minister said. Germany and France, as well as all other European countries expect Croatia to fully implement the Dayton agreement in all its aspects, said Vedrine. Croatia fully supports the implementation of the Dayton peace agreement, said Granic. Croatia and the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Bosnia- Herzegovina are negotiating an agreement on special relations as well as the use of the Croatian port of Ploce for the needs of the Federation, the unobstructed passage through a short section of the coast which belongs to the Federation (Neum) and the construction of a motorway from Zagreb to Dubrovnik through Bosnia-Herzegovina; Croatia is ready to sign the agreement on establishing a cooperation council it had already agreed on with Bosnia- Herzegovina, said Granic. "Around 1 May we will open a general-consulate in Banja Luka," said Granic stressing Croatia's determination to continue cooperating with ICTY. Granic added that Croatia had started negotiations with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on the two-way return of refugees and would start negotiations on the same issue with Republika Srpska on 27 March. "What we expect from our dear colleagues, the international community and EU is their support for the unfreezing of the PHARE program and the renewal of talks on the cooperation agreement with the EU," said Granic. (hina) jn rm/mrb 182035 MET mar 98