CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER HOLDS TALKS WITH YUGOSLAV COUNTERPART

( Editorial: --> 2344 ) NEW YORK, Sept 22 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic is visiting New York to attend the 53rd session of the United Nations Main Assembly. Granic on Tuesday held talks with his Yugoslav counterpart, Zivadin Jovanovic. The two ministers described the half-hour talks as constructive, but would not provide details about the meeting. A "significant progress in all issues" has been reached, and the "results of everything done after August 18 are positive,", Jovanovic said. Him and Granic met on August 18 in Zagreb to hold talks. There is a lot of work ahead, and it is our task to encourage our experts to continue working on what had been begun, he added. Asked whether progress has been achieved regarding the Croatian southernmost peninsula, Prevlaka, Jovanovic said it had. By that he said he meant the "first meeting of diplomatic delegations" and the agreement reached that "the delegations meet again within 15 days and continue negotiations". "Croatia wishes to resolve the key issues - Prevlaka, the succession to the former country, and the marking of the state border. The failure to resolve these issues blocks Yugoslavia internationally," Granic said. The Croatian and Yugoslav delegations also discussed the opening of air corridors and cooperation in environment protection. Mate Granic also on Tuesday held talks with Norwegian Foreign Minister Knut Vollebaek. They discussed Kosovo, Bosnia- Herzegovina and the resolution of the question of visas for Croatian citizens that had been introduced after the departure of a large number of Croatian Serbs to find accommodation in Norway. While a total of 2,500 Serbs left for Norway via Yugoslavia, only 400 remain, Granic said. "We are solving this on a daily, or weekly basis, and it is my hope and wish that in the future, we will abolish the visa requirements," Volleabek said after the meeting. Granic also held a meeting with his Egyptian counterpart, Amro Mouss, discussing the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the implementation of the Dayton peace agreement. The Egyptian side hailed the agreement on citizens of Bosnia- Herzegovina using the Croatian port of Ploce and free passage of Croatian citizens through Neum, Granic said. Granic on Monday attended a lunch prepared by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, which was used as an opportunity for discussion with numerous colleagues, including the foreign ministers of Austria, Italy, Turkey, Germany, Luxembourg and Bulgaria. Granic discussed this year's visit of Croatian President to Italy with the Italian Foreign Minister, Lamberto Dini. Austrian Foreign Minister Wolfgang Schuessel announced he would attend the meeting of the Central European Initiative in Zagreb in November. The foreign ministers of Bulgaria, Luxembourg and Norway also said they would visit Croatia soon. Granic's talks with European foreign ministers focused on Croatia's wish to approach western Europe, the situation in Bosnia- Herzegovina and in Kosovo. Yugoslav Foreign Minister Jovanovic dismissed a UN resolution which stipulates a cessation of conflicts. "Every measure and everything belonging in the pressure arsenal hinders dialogue and efforts to reach a peaceful political solution which would guarantee equality for all citizens and every national community in Kosovo and Metohija," Jovanovic said on Tuesday after talks with Granic. (hina) lml 222108 MET sep 98