CROATIA WILL OPPOSE REVISION OF DAYTON ACCORDS - GRANIC

ZAGREB, Dec 10 (Hina)- Croatia will closely monitor the proceedings of the Madrid conference and will energetically oppose any initiatives that would go beyond the Dayton Accords, Foreign Minister Mate Granic said on Thursday in Zagreb. Granic said this at a press briefing introducing a conference of the Peace Implementation Council, to take place 15 and 16 December, where asked to comment on rumours that the conference could de facto revise the peace accords by giving more authority to the already high powered High Representative to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Carlos Westendorp. "There can be no changes (of the Dayton Accords) without a consensus of all three BH peoples", Granic stated. Although primarily a political forum, the Council will in Madrid focus on economic aspects of the situation in BH. One of the main topics on the agenda will be a consistent implementation of the BH election and the curbing of corruption and crime. "This means that ways to revitalise the country's economy are being considered", Granic said. Croatia greatly contributed to the conference by signing agreements on special relations with BH and on Ploce and Neum. Other contributions were the establishment of an inter-state council for cooperation with BH, Granic said, adding that Croatia expressed full commitment to the elections in BH and that it would vote for their consistent implementation. Equally important for the Madrid conference was the adoption of the Croatian Government's programme for the return of Serb refugees and everything that has been done so far for its implementation. When asked whether Croatia would act at the conference as an advocate of Bosnian Croats, like it has been doing in the past, Granic answered: "Consistent implementation of the Dayton Accords, including the return of BH Croat refugees to their homes rather than the continuation of the exodus, is in Croatia's interest", Granic said. (hina) jn mr