IZETBEGOVIC CLARIFIES HIS STATEMENT ON SPECIAL RELATIONS AGREEMENT

SARAJEVO, Nov 15 (Hina) - The office of the Muslim member of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency Alija Izetbegovic on Sunday issued a statement clarifying his Saturday statement on Television Bosnia- Herzegovina (TV BiH) regarding the agreement on special relations between the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia. In today's statement, which was sent only to TV BiH, Izetbegovic reiterates his view that the fate of the agreement on special relations was in the hands of parliamentary representatives. Izetbegovic says that in his earlier statement he said that the public in BH "does not oppose the agreement itself....but it opposes agreements of this kind". "It is actually about antagonism towards agreements on special relations as a principle, a category", he said. The earlier statement lacked the clarification that the agreement on special relations "had been envisaged by the Dayton peace agreement, in which Ejup Ganic did not participate". Izetbegovic further recalled that the BH delegation at the Dayton talks was represented by himself and several other officials and that it was that delegation which was responsible for the Dayton agreement, including its provision on special relations agreements between BH entities and neighbouring states. Federation President Ganic is responsible for the content of the agreement on special relations, Izetbegovic said, adding the agreement contained no major or irreparable drawbacks. "I also still believe that the agreement, which has already been initialled, should be signed and the final decision on its fate should be made by the parliaments of the Federation and the state of Bosnia-Herzegovina", Izetbegovic said. (hina) rml