EXODUS OF CROATS FROM BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA WEAKENS FEDERATION - GRANIC

- GRANIC ( Editorial: --> 9058 ) ZAGREB, 7 Nov (Hina) - The draft accords on special relations between the Republic of Croatia and the Federation of Bosnia- Herzegovina are legal proposals to the other side for negotiations, and they are based on the Washington and Dayton agreements, as well as on the Sintra documents, Croatia's Foreign Minister Mate Granic stated following a session of the Parliament Committee for Foreign Policy, which on Friday held a discussion on the draft accords behind closed doors in Zagreb. The discussion was 'open, meaningful and useful', Granic said, adding he regretted the fact that the meeting was not attended by representatives of all opposition parliamentary parties. "Any state of being endangered would mean a greater exodus of Croats from Bosnia-Herzegovina," said Granic, adding that out of 828,000 Croats, who had lived in Bosnia-Herzegovina before the war, only 400,000 remained. "The exodus of Croats from Bosnia-Herzegovina weakens the possibility of not only strengthening the Federation but it weakens its very survival as well," Granic said. The international community wants Croatia to actively participate in the peace process in Bosnia-Herzegovina. This is also Croatia's commitment towards the agreement Presidents Tudjman and Izetbegovic signed in Split in August this year, Granic said. The draft agreements referred to special relations having a very rich content, and not to a confederation, Granic said, adding there was no danger of Croatia entering any kind of association with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Asked to comment on negative reactions from Bosnia-Herzegovina concerning the draft agreements, Granic said it was not true the reactions were negative, and added he did not want to give any comments. "The comments given so far have been cautious and what we do have so far is that the Croatian initiative has been welcomed, since it is based on the Dayton and Washington agreements," Granic said. "We expect official comments soon and after that we will negotiate the draft agreement," said Granic. (hina) jn rm 071705 MET nov 97