KLEIN: BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA CAN'T SURVIVE WITHOUT CROATS AND SERBS

( Editorial: --> 7634 ) ZAGREB, April 17 (Hina) - Bosnia-Herzegovina cannot survive without Croats and Serbs, Deputy High Representative for Bosnia- Herzegovina Jacques Klein told a press conference in the American Embassy in Zagreb on Friday. My goal is to secure the presence of Croats in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Klein said adding he discussed today the problem of departure of Croats from Bosnia-Herzegovina with Croatian President Franjo Tudjman. Some circles in Croatia encourage Croats not to return to Bosnia. I need Croats in Bosnia, so that it could function as a state, he said. There is a constructive government in the Bosnian Serb entity and we need now an equally constructive Croat side in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Westendorp's deputy mused. He said he hoped that a leadership willing to cooperate would be elected at the forthcoming convention of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Traditional ties between Banja Luka, Zagreb and Sarajevo have to be renewed, Klein said adding this was one of the things he discussed with President Tudjman. He expressed satisfaction with the level of relations between Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina and the forthcoming signing of a series of agreements. Commenting on his talks with Tudjman, Klein said that President Tudjman was as positive as usual and added that Tudjman's goal had always been for Croats to stay in Bosnia. The new draft on special relations between Bosnia and Croatia is much better then the previous one and contains about 99 per cent of what the international community expects it to contain, he said. The international community believes that Croatia is "a key player" in a solution to the Bosnian situation, Klein said. If Serbs don't return to Croatia, then the return of refugees to Bosnia-Herzegovina will not be possible, the Deputy High Representative concluded adding he believed the next couple of months would be crucial. (hina) mm rm /mb 171947 MET apr 98