GRANIC PRESENTS AGREEMENT ON CRO-BH INTER-STATE COUNCIL

( Editorial: --> 1957 ) ZAGREB, June 17 (Hina) - An agreement on the establishment of an inter-state council for cooperation between Croatia and Bosnia- Herzegovina (BH) is an important step in the application of the Dayton peace agreement, the strengthening of bilateral relations and the survival of Croats in BH, Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic said Wednesday. Presenting a bill on the ratification of the said agreement to the parliament's House of Representatives, Granic said the document is a lot more than a classic friendship agreement. The agreement envisages for the inter-state council to regulate the activities of the two countries in foreign affairs, succession, fighting terrorism, illegal trade and international crime, the marking of a state border, the regulation of the visa system, and other joint activities. The agreement was signed in Zagreb March 30 this year and represents a legal framework for cooperation with BH and the protection of the Croat people in BH which, Granic told the Lower House, is Croatia's constitutional and moral duty. It is an internationally very important agreement which will, alongside some others, be part of a package Croatia will use to fully demonstrate that the implementation of the Dayton and Washington peace agreements is its strategic interest. Franjo Greguric endorsed the agreement on behalf of the parliamentary bench of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). The agreement is significant for long-term relations and the advancement of relations between Croatia and the Croat-Muslim Federation of BH and BH, Greguric emphasised. Full endorsement was also given by Josko Kontic on behalf of the Croatian Social Liberal Party bench. He warned however that the agreement might stay "dead writing on paper" unless there is good will to implement it. Luka Trconic of the Croatian Peasant Party advocated that the parliament "watch over relations" with BH and hold regular discussions on all issues which arise. He suggested that the southern Croatian port of Ploce and passage through Neum, Bosnia's exit to the Adriatic Sea, be discussed in the parliament to avoid misunderstandings. Bosiljko Misetic of the HDZ remarked it is not clear from the inter- state council agreement how the council will reach decisions, call and hold sessions. (hina) ha as 171905 MET jun 98