ZAGREB, Nov 22 (Hina) - Croatia signed in Zagreb on Sunday an +agreement on special relations with the Federation of Bosnia-+Herzegovina (BH) and an agreement with BH on Ploce and Neum, thus +laying the groundwork for long-term
cooperation to mutual +benefit.+ The special relations agreement between Croatia and the Croat-+Muslim Federation of BH was signed by Croatian President Franjo +Tudjman, Federation President Ejup Ganic, and Federation Vice +President Vladimir Soljic.+ The agreement between Croatia and BH, on BH's free transit from its +border to the southern Croatian port of Ploce, and Croatia's free +passage through Neum, BH resort on the Adriatic Sea, was signed by +President Tudjman, and Alija Izetbegovic, a member of BH's +collective Presidency.+ The two previously initialled agreements were signed after the +first session of a Croatian-Bosnian inter-state cooperation +council.+ The
ZAGREB, Nov 22 (Hina) - Croatia signed in Zagreb on Sunday an
agreement on special relations with the Federation of Bosnia-
Herzegovina (BH) and an agreement with BH on Ploce and Neum, thus
laying the groundwork for long-term cooperation to mutual
benefit.
The special relations agreement between Croatia and the Croat-
Muslim Federation of BH was signed by Croatian President Franjo
Tudjman, Federation President Ejup Ganic, and Federation Vice
President Vladimir Soljic.
The agreement between Croatia and BH, on BH's free transit from its
border to the southern Croatian port of Ploce, and Croatia's free
passage through Neum, BH resort on the Adriatic Sea, was signed by
President Tudjman, and Alija Izetbegovic, a member of BH's
collective Presidency.
The two previously initialled agreements were signed after the
first session of a Croatian-Bosnian inter-state cooperation
council.
The signing of the agreements was attended by the highest-ranking
officials of Croatia and BH, as well as numerous representatives of
the international community, including ambassadors of the Contact
Group and the European Union.
The special relations agreement should enable and incite
transparent cooperation between Croatia and the Federation of BH in
all fields, including economy, trade, military issues, and
interior affairs.
Concrete aspects of cooperation will be arranged through annexes,
expected to be passed by July 1, 1999.
With the special relations agreement it has been insisting on for
years, Croatia wants to protect the interests of Croats in BH and
ensure the protection of its southern territory.
The said agreement's signing was postponed twice in the last month
after Bosniak Muslim politicians in Sarajevo had backed from their
obligation to do so. Their explanation was that the agreement
benefited only Croatia and would put Croatia in a paternalistic
position over the Federation.
The Bosniak Muslim side was eventually induced to sign the
agreement after Croatia conditioned the signing of the Ploce/Neum
agreement with the signing of the special relations agreement, and
as a result of pressure from the United States.
The U.S. ascribes great importance to the signing of both
agreements, which should arrange open issues between the two sides,
formalise their cooperation, and make Croatia's support to Croats
in BH, military support in particular, more transparent.
U.S. special envoy Richard Sclar and deputy international high
representative for BH, U.S. Ambassador Jacques Klein, mediated in
the reaching of both agreements.
The Ploce agreement will enable BH to have an economic outlet to the
sea and stimulate the revival of the war-ravaged economy.
(hina) ha