CROATIA DELIVERS PROPOSAL FOR RESOLVING PREVLAKA ISSUE TO YUG

( Editorial: --> 1375 ) ZAGREB, June 15 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic Monday handed Yugoslav Ambassador to Croatia Veljko Knezevic Croatia's draft agreement between the two countries on a lasting solution to the issue of Prevlaka. Prevlaka is Croatia's southern-most tip bordering with the Yugoslav Republic of Montenegro. Croatia has proposed the draft agreement in line with the UN Security Council Resolution 1147 of January 13, 1998, by which Croatia and Yugoslavia are called on to resolve the issue through bilateral negotiations, said a statement from the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Croatian draft agreement starts from an agreement on the normalisation of relations between the two countries, and quotes principles from the UN Charter and other international documents speaking about the inviolability of internationally recognised borders and peaceful solving of disputes. In its proposal Croatia also quotes the Badinter commission's opinion from 1991, which had determined that Croatia and Slovenia had not seceded, but that the former Yugoslav federation had broken up into its component Republics within their original borders. Croatia's draft agreement also outlines a proposal to establish full security in the Dubrovnik region of southern-most Croatia and the bordering Yugoslav region of Boka Kotorska Bay, by means of, among else, mutual demilitarisation, with respect of territorial integrity and sovereignty of both countries. The draft agreement also suggests an expedite meeting of a mixed commission for establishing a land border, while a sea border would be determined according to international conventions and by ensuring free passage to Boka Kotorska Bay. Foreign Minister Granic emphasised the resolution of the Prevlaka issue is an obligation both countries have to the international community and that it will contribute to stability in this region, the Foreign Ministry statement said. (hina) ha jn 151836 MET jun 98