GRANIC: CROATIA HAS STRENGTHENED INTERNATIONAL POSITION

( Editorial: --> 5439 ) ZAGREB, July 3 (Hina) - Croatia's international position has been strengthened following the adoption of a programme for the return of refugees, displaced and exiled persons, Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic said on Friday, adding this enables Croatia to lead an active policy. We can therefore expect the support of the European Union and a conference on the reconstruction and development of Croatia which, Granic said, will most probably take place in October. Speaking at a press conference of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union, the Foreign Minister said we can also expect a discussion on the inclusion of Croatia into the PHARE programme and the resumption of negotiations on a cooperation agreement with the EU later this year. We are also working on bringing Croatia closer to the Partnership for Peace, he added. The programme on the return of refugees, displaced and exiled persons has been welcomed by both the EU and the United States. It is based on the Croatian Constitution, Croatian laws and international conventions, it is real and not discriminatory, Granic said. He told reporters there are currently 787 requests for Croatian documents out of a total of 797 submitted to the Croatian Embassy in Belgrade. Only 105 persons requested travel documents for returning to Croatia. Croatia is completely ready for the application of the return programme which, the Foreign Minister said, will significantly affect its international position and credibility. Granic recalled several active moves Croatia made recently. He mentioned an agreement with the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe on the monitoring of police performance and a draft agreement on resolving the issue of Prevlaka, which was forwarded to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. This draft agreement was welcomed by the United Nations Secretary- General, with the recommendation that it be the basis for more frequent negotiations for which, Granic emphasised, Croatia is ready. A new mandate of UN monitors on Prevlaka, Croatia's southernmost tip bordering with the Yugoslav Republic of Montenegro, should according to Granic be shorter, firmly determined in line with Croatia's territorial integrity and with a clear standpoint that stalled negotiations will no longer be tolerated. Granic said that yesterday's UN Security Council statement very clearly stated that the support group's mandate would end on October 15 which was also the end of UN presence in the Danube river region of eastern Croatia. Speaking about Croatia's relations with Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Foreign Minister recalled that an agreement had been signed to the effect of establishing a council for cooperation and that negotiations on special relations with the Croat-Muslim Federation of BH had been completed. Three disputed issues have been resolved so far, Granic said, adding these were BH's access to the sea, passage through Neum, an Adriatic port within the BH Federation, and the use of southern Croatian port Ploce. Still disputed remains the customs zone issue. Granic said Croatia was willing to have the US and the international high representative for BH assist in completing negotiations in the interest of both Croatia and the Bosnian Federation. A protocol on the two-way return of refugees was signed with the Bosnian Serb entity, Granic said. Croatia wants to open a consulate in Banja Luka, which Bosnia's collective Presidency has okayed. There are still some technical problems, he added. Croatia's relations with other neighbouring countries are appropriate, the Foreign Minister assessed. Next week ratification documents on the protection of minorities will be exchanged with Italy. Croatian President Franjo Tudjman is also expected to visit Italy, Granic announced. We are in constant touch with Slovenia and are trying to resolve all disputed issues by agreement. Expected is a meeting with Slovene Foreign Minister Boris Frlec, Granic said. Commenting on some international demands for changes to the Croatian electoral system, Granic said the electoral law is within democratic standards. Whether the electoral system will be a majority one or proportionate is another question, he told reporters. Requested to comment on a statement the director of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre in Jerusalem Ephraim Zuroff made in relation to the trial of Dinko Sakic, the recently extradited commander of World War Two concentration camp Jasenovac, Granic emphasised that Croatia will organise a fair and open trial. He announced he will receive Zuroff personally. (hina) ha jn 031800 MET jul 98