NEGOTIATIONS ON SPECIAL RELATIONS WITH B. FEDERATION POSTPONED

ZAGREB, Oct 22 (Hina) - A meeting to negotiate the agreement on special relations between Croatia and the Croat-Moslem Bosnian Federation did not take place in Zagreb on Thursday, as had been announced. The meeting has been postponed due to the failure of the Bosniak (Moslem) delegation to arrive at the talks. Having confirmed the Bosniak delegation's readiness on several occasions to hold the talks on Thursday, president of the Bosnian Federation, Ejup Ganic, suddenly cancelled on Wednesday night, the Croatian Foreign Ministry said. Ganic explained Thursday's cancellation with the need for "agreement within the delegation of the Bosnian Federation," but left open a possibility of the meeting taking place next week, Croatian Ambassador to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Darinko Bago told reporters. "The President of the Bosnian Federation Ejup Ganic informed me by fax last night that the meeting is being postponed due to the (need for an) agreement within the delegation of the Bosnian Federation, and that the meeting will probably take place next week," Bago said. He expressed regret about the postponement of the meeting, stressing that Croatia had invested efforts for the agreement, which is of "vital importance" not only for Croatia, but also for Croats in the Bosnian Federation, to be reached as soon as possible. Bosnian Federation vice-president Vladimir Soljic also expressed regret about the failure of the Bosniak side to show up. He stressed that not long before departing for Zagreb, leader of the Bosniak delegation, Kasim Trnka, confirmed that the meeting was taking place, and that a preparation meeting of representatives of the Bosnian Federation would be held at the Bosnian embassy in Zagreb. "We respected the agreement and were at the embassy at 9.00am, but the Bosniak side did not show up," Soljic said. Croats in Bosnia-Herzegovina are interested in the agreement being reached, and us in the delegation wish for it to be concluded as soon as possible, Soljic said. Asked about what remains contentious in the agreement on special relations between Croatia and the Bosnian Federation, Soljic said "a lot". He would not, however, disclose the details. Speaking about Franjo Greguric, who recently resigned from his post as special Croatian envoy for relations with Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bago said he had greatly contributed "to the development of relations with Bosnia-Herzegovina, especially economic relations." His successor can introduce some changes, but there are no changes in the basic relations between Croatia and the Bosnian Federation, Bago stressed. (hina) lml