BH FEDERATION PRESIDENT CRITICISES CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

SARAJEVO, Nov 16 (Hina) - The Office of the President of the Croat- Muslim Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina on Monday issued a statement refuting claims that an agreement on special relations between Croatia and the Federation enables Croatia to legally finance the Croatian Defence Council (HVO). The statement said that "the daily press carried articles claiming that Croatian Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Mate Granic had said that the initialled draft agreement on special relations enables the Croatian state to legally finance the HVO." The draft agreement does not contain that provision or any that might so be interpreted, federal President Ejup Ganic said in the statement. Ganic's Office said that if true, the Croatian Foreign Minister's statement justified possible doubts among the BH public. "Such interpretation of the agreement by representatives of Croatia prevents the Federation side from signing the agreement, as (signing it) would violate the Constitution of BH, the Federation, and would overthrown the peace agreement." "We expect a clear standpoint on the matter from Croatia, and the signing of the agreement depends on a preliminary decision of the Federation's parliament, called to convene on Wednesday," Ganic's statement concluded. The special agreement was supposed to be signed in Zagreb today. Due to the non-arrival of Bosniak Muslim representatives, the signing was postponed. (hina) ha