SPECIAL RELATIONS AGREEMENT IS KEY FOR EQUALITY OF CROATS IN BH

ZAGREB, Oct 27 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa and representatives of the international community welcomed on Tuesday the initialling of the Agreement on Special Relations Between Croatia and the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina (BH). "The Agreement is the key for equality and position strengthening of Croats in BH, as well as a direct consequence of the Washington and Dayton agreements", Matesa said after his meeting with representatives of the international community, discussing a donors' conference on the reconstruction of Croatia. The Agreement on the special relations opens a possibility for further strengthening of relations between the two countries, said Matesa and congratulated all those who had contributed to the initialling of the agreement. This is a very important day for the entire region, said the United States Ambassador to Croatia, William Montogomery. According him, the initialled agreement would be very important for both countries, as well as for the implementation of the Dayton accords. The US ambassador also thanked the Croatian side for its constructive part in the process. Rudolf Bogner, Austrian ambassador to Croatia, also welcomed the initialled agreement on special relations between Croatia and the BH Federation on behalf of the European Union. (hina) it jn/lml