ZAGREB, Nov 16 (Hina) - Due to internal friction the Bosniak Muslim +side did not appear in Zagreb on Monday to sign an agreement on +special relations between Croatia and the Croat-Muslim Federation +of Bosnia-Herzegovina (BH) and an
agreement between Croatia and BH +on the ports of Ploce and Neum.+ Though disappointed, representatives of Croatia and the +international community still hope the agreements will be signed in +the near future.+ Bosniak Muslim representatives failed to appear in Zagreb as +scheduled despite intensive diplomatic efforts in the last 48 +hours, especially on the part of special United States mediator +Richard Sklar and deputy international high representative for BH +Jacques Klein.+ Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic and Klein told reporters in +Zagreb on Monday the agreements had not been signed, and expressed +their disappointm
ZAGREB, Nov 16 (Hina) - Due to internal friction the Bosniak Muslim
side did not appear in Zagreb on Monday to sign an agreement on
special relations between Croatia and the Croat-Muslim Federation
of Bosnia-Herzegovina (BH) and an agreement between Croatia and BH
on the ports of Ploce and Neum.
Though disappointed, representatives of Croatia and the
international community still hope the agreements will be signed in
the near future.
Bosniak Muslim representatives failed to appear in Zagreb as
scheduled despite intensive diplomatic efforts in the last 48
hours, especially on the part of special United States mediator
Richard Sklar and deputy international high representative for BH
Jacques Klein.
Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic and Klein told reporters in
Zagreb on Monday the agreements had not been signed, and expressed
their disappointment at the Muslims' failure to attend.
"Croatia deeply regrets that the agreements have not been signed,"
said Granic.
He warned, "The Croatian side believes the non-signing of the
special relations agreement could negatively affect relations
within the Federation (of BH), relations between the Republic of
Croatia and the Federation, relations between (Croatia) and BH, and
obviously the Federation of BH's relations with the international
community."
Klein said the two agreements seemed to be hostage to coalition
party rivalries in Sarajevo, BH's capital, as well as to other
personal reasons and political quarrels.
He believed the Bosniak Muslim side had behaved irresponsibly, and
hoped the agreements would be signed soon.
I hope and expect the interior political dynamics in Sarajevo will
be resolved in the next couple of days, and that we will be able to
sign both agreements next week, Klein said.
He commended Croatia as a serious negotiator which had shown great
political courage by consenting to the agreement on BH's use of
Ploce, a port in southernmost Croatia.
Klein also hoped the political leadership in Sarajevo would show
equal political courage with regard to the special relations
agreement between Croatia and the Federation, which is one of BH's
two entities.
Failing to appear in the next few days, Klein said the Bosniak
Muslim side would bring into question its credibility as
negotiator, and would endanger the whole series of agreements
between Croatia and the Federation of BH which should follow.
Granic said BH had not notified Croatia officially that it would not
sign the agreements.
Federation vice president Vladimir Soljic told the same press
conference in Zagreb he believed the current problems would be
overcome, and that Bosniak Muslims would sign the special relations
agreement. He did confirm their failure to appear today would have
negative effects.
"It will awaken Croatia's doubts into BH and everything that will be
planned," he said. "It even raises doubts that a state different
than the one outlined in (the) Dayton (peace agreement) is
wanted."
Foreign Minister Granic said Croatia persevered on the
simultaneous signing of the special relations agreement and the
Ploce-Neum agreements, and that it would not consent to any
alterations to the two already initialled agreements.
(hina) ha mm