ZAGREB, Dec 11 (Hina) - Croatia's Foreign Minister on Friday +expressed regret at statement's made by the Bosnian Muslim member +of the Bosnia-Herzegovina presidency member, where Izetbegovic set +conditions for the continuation of
negotiations regarding border +issues near Martin Brod (southern Croatia/western Bosnia), between +Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. + Following a request on Thursday by Croatian Foreign Minister Mate +Granic for the Bosnian presidency's official stance regarding the +controversial border issue, Izetbegovic's office issued a +statement in which it said,+ "We demand the Republic of Croatia to respect the integrity and +territorial sovereignty of Bosnia-Herzegovina and to immediately +withdraw Croatian police forces from the noted area (Martin Brod). +Until this is adhered to, the inter-state commission to determine +and identify the state borders between the two countries, wil
ZAGREB, Dec 11 (Hina) - Croatia's Foreign Minister on Friday
expressed regret at statement's made by the Bosnian Muslim member
of the Bosnia-Herzegovina presidency member, where Izetbegovic set
conditions for the continuation of negotiations regarding border
issues near Martin Brod (southern Croatia/western Bosnia), between
Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Following a request on Thursday by Croatian Foreign Minister Mate
Granic for the Bosnian presidency's official stance regarding the
controversial border issue, Izetbegovic's office issued a
statement in which it said,
"We demand the Republic of Croatia to respect the integrity and
territorial sovereignty of Bosnia-Herzegovina and to immediately
withdraw Croatian police forces from the noted area (Martin Brod).
Until this is adhered to, the inter-state commission to determine
and identify the state borders between the two countries, will not
continue with its work".
Minister Granic on Friday received the Bosnian Ambassador, Hasan
Muratovic and expressed his regret against Izetbegovic's
statement.
Granic emphasised that "the Republic of Croatia does not have any
territorial demands towards its neighbour Bosnia-Herzegovina" and
stressed "the Croatian Government's sincere desire that in the
spirit of proper European standards, questions regarding borders
should be determined by the combined diplomatic commission", said a
statement issued by the Croatian Foreign Ministry.
Croatia waited a year and a half for Bosnia to convene a diplomatic
commission and for a joint meeting to be scheduled.
"Minister Granic informed Ambassador Muratovic about Croatia's
recommendation to sign a memorandum on avoiding incidents and for
the work of the diplomatic commission to be sped up. In case that a
solution cannot be found for conflicting issues, the Croatian
Government will recommend to the Croatian Sabor to accept the
solution of arbitration", notes the ministry's statement.
Ambassador Muratovic relayed his dissatisfaction of the media
coverage regarding the issue surrounding Martin Brod, the Croatian
ministry's statement relayed.
Granic spoke about the Martin Brod matter in a briefing in Zagreb on
Thursday. He explained that the problem of the border arose because
Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina have differing maps and land
registry records which in fact give both sides territorial rights
to the said region.
(hina) sp