SILAJDZIC HOPES AGREEMENT ON PLOCE PORT WILL BE REACHED SOON

( Editorial: --> 4121 ) SARAJEVO, 17 Aug (Hina) - Haris Silajdzic, co-chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia-Herzegovina, has expressed hope that talks on the resolution of the status of the Croatian port of Ploce between Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina would have a positive outcome with the help of US arbitration. In an interview with Monday's issue of the Sarajevo-based daily "Vecernje novine" Silajdzic could not give any details as to when the agreement on Ploce could be reached. "I think it is good that Mr Sclar is here. It is obvious that we need a mediator since we were not able to reach an agreement although it is in the interest of both sates. We will see when and how quickly it will happen but I hope for a good outcome," Silajdzic said. The agreement on Ploce is more than an agreement on its commercial use by Bosnia-Herzegovina - it is an inter-state agreement. "There would be no problems if it were only the question of commercial access...in that case the state would not have much to do," Silajdzic said. Asked whether Bosnia was considering intensifying negotiations with Montenegro on the use of the port of Bar, in case no agreement is reached with Croatia, Silajdzic said that cooperation with Bar was not out of the question even if the agreement with Croatia was reached very soon. (hina) rml 171304 MET aug 98