ZAGREB, Nov 22 (Hina) - The two agreements signed in Zagreb on +Sunday between Croatia and the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina +(BH) and Croatia and BH will resolve open issues between the two +sides, enable a better protection of
Croats in BH and of Croatia's +strategic interests, enable stronger economic relations between +the two countries, and provide BH with access to the sea.+ The agreement on special relations between Croatia and the Croat-+Muslim Federation envisages the establishment of special +cooperation in 14 fields, including economy, trade, military +issues, and interior relations.+ The agreement represents a mere general framework of special +relations. Concrete aspects of cooperation will be determined in +annexes which, according to the agreement, will be passed by July 1, +1999.+ To implement the special relations, the agreement envisages the +establishment of
ZAGREB, Nov 22 (Hina) - The two agreements signed in Zagreb on
Sunday between Croatia and the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina
(BH) and Croatia and BH will resolve open issues between the two
sides, enable a better protection of Croats in BH and of Croatia's
strategic interests, enable stronger economic relations between
the two countries, and provide BH with access to the sea.
The agreement on special relations between Croatia and the Croat-
Muslim Federation envisages the establishment of special
cooperation in 14 fields, including economy, trade, military
issues, and interior relations.
The agreement represents a mere general framework of special
relations. Concrete aspects of cooperation will be determined in
annexes which, according to the agreement, will be passed by July 1,
1999.
To implement the special relations, the agreement envisages the
establishment of a joint council for cooperation between Croatia
and the Federation.
The council will be composed of the President of Croatia and the
President and Vice President of the Federation, and will have the
task of making suggestions and recommendations for cooperation to
Croatian and federal institutions.
The council will appoint a six-member permanent committee to
include the Premier, one Deputy Premier and relevant minister on
the Croatian side, while the Federation will be represented by the
Premier, his Deputy, and a relevant minister.
Both bodies will reach decisions by consensus to ensure the
equality of both sides.
At Croatia's initiative, the special relations agreement includes
Article 12, which envisages that Croats and Bosniak Muslims resolve
by consensus all vital interests in the Federation, by which
Croats' wish to protect themselves from being outvoted by the more
numerous Bosniaks.
Croatia and the Federation agreed to within three months initiate
the replacement or adjustment of extant international agreements
in line with the Dayton peace agreement and the special relations
agreement.
If difference in opinion between Croats and Bosniaks prevents this
from being achieved in the agreed time, the two sides will consent
to assistance and arbitration from the high international
representative for BH, with the aim to do so by July 1, 1999.
The signatories agree to the high representative's arbitration
also in instances of disagreement with regard to annexes to the
special relations agreement.
After the signing, the agreement will be applied temporarily, and
will come into force 30 days after the last report that all
conditions envisaged by the two sides' legal orders have been
complied with.
Croatia and the Federation committed to ratify the agreement within
three months of its signing.
The second agreement signed today, between Croatia and BH, refers
to BH's transit across Croatian territory from the BH border to the
Croatian port of Ploce, and to Croatia's transit across BH
territory in Neum, a seaside resort cutting through southern
Croatia.
This agreement ensures for Croatia undisturbed transit through
Neum, and thus connections with its southernmost areas, while
simultaneously giving BH access to the sea in Ploce and the
possibility of using the free Ploce harbour zone.
The two sides will not charge tariffs or other fees on goods in
transit.
In Ploce, Croatia will establish a free and foreign trade zone,
which will be available to companies from Croatia, BH, and other
countries.
The free zone, to be established on a period of 30 years, the time
the special relations agreement will be in force, will be managed by
a 13-member harbour administration, including five members from
BH.
The implementation of the agreement will be supervised by a seven-
member commission, which will have the right of interpreting the
agreement and making arbitration decisions on its implementation.
The commission will be composed of three representatives each from
Croatia and BH. Its chairman, who will pass final decisions in case
of disagreement among the other six members, will be appointed by
the international sea right court.
(hina) ha