MILOSEVIC AGREES TO UNCONDITIONAL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH BOSNIA

( Editorial: --> 1874 ) SARAJEVO, May 6 (Hina) - Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic suggested to the chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina a momentary and unconditional establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, as envisaged by the Dayton Agreement, Sarajevo's daily "Oslobodjenje" said on Wednesday. Citing no concrete source, the paper said Milosevic's proposal had been relayed to Izetbegovic by the Republika Srpska Premier when they met two days ago. An official statement from Izetbegovic's Office said the talks had focused on economic issues. Milosevic has been refusing to establish diplomatic relations with Bosnia-Herzegovina, although he had assumed that obligation by a special statement he had signed in Paris on October 3, 1996. He requested that Bosnia-Herzegovina withdraw its charges against Yugoslavia before the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). "Oslobodjenje" on Wednesday also ran a signed document of Belgrade's proposal which said that "FR Yugoslavia respected the integrity of Bosnia-Herzegovina, in line with the Dayton and Paris agreements, by which the continuity of various forms of Bosnian statehoods the people of Bosnia-Herzegovina have had during their history has been confirmed." Another paragraph of the document stated that Bosnia-Herzegovina "respects the statehood continuity of FR Yugoslavia, starting off from the historic fact that Serbia and Montenegro existed as sovereign states before the creation of Yugoslavia, and keeping in mind the fact that Yugoslavia has extended the internationally legal entities of these states". According to the proposal, the two sides should solve the issue of succession on the basis of international law and in agreement, and they would establish diplomatic relations and exchange ambassadors immediately. The two sides will "pay most attention to the free and safe return of refugees, as well as to the urgent solving of their property issues," the document said. The proposal concluded that Milosevic and Izetbegovic had agreed that all contentious issues in their relations, hindering these goals should be solved. According to the document, it should be signed in Belgrade. It also contains an annex of 18 agreements the two countries should sign and which regulate issues of trade, customs, protection and stimulation of investments, avoidance of double taxation, cooperation of customs services, traffic, visas, mutual help and recognition of documents. (hina) lm 061057 MET may 98