IZETBEGOVIC EXPRESSES VIEWS ON CROATIA'S DRAFT AGREEMENT ( Editorial: --> 0689 )

( Editorial: --> 0689 ) SARAJEVO, Nov 13 (Hina) - After Thursday's meeting with Croatian President's special envoy for relations with th Bosnian Federation and Bosnia-Herzegovina, Franjo Greguric and Croatian Ambassador Darinko Bago, office of the chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia- Herzegovina, Alija Izetbegovic, issued a statement on Izetbegovic's most recent proposals regarding the establishment of special relations between Croatia and the Bosnian Federation. The BH Press agency said on Thursday evening that in a personal letter sent by Izetbegovic to Croatian President Tudjman, he had expressed "opposition to the establishment of wide institutional ties between the two countries," the Sarajevo radio and television said. Izetbegovic held that the establishment of bodies such as an advisory council, ministerial committees and similar was not necessary. According to him, a council should be established comprising of two authorised secretaries, one from Croatia, one from Bosnia- Herzegovina. Regarding special relations which envisaged the establishment of monetary and customs unions, a joint market and free trade zone with Croatia, they needed to be developed, but on a state level, not on the level of one of the entities in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the statement said. "Special relations between Croatia and the Bosnian Federation cannot be included into relations with other states, neither can the establishment of consortium for road and air traffic, as these provisions are opposing to the Dayton agreement, the sovereignty and integrity of Bosnia-Herzegovina and our efforts to reintegrate the country," Izetbegovic's letter to Tudjman said. The issues of regulating the status of the port of Ploce and the passage through Neum had to be subjects of a special agreement between Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, which both presidents had agreed on at a meeting in Split. Izetbegovic holds that an inter-state council for cooperation should act at a higher level and a parity basis. The offered proposition undermined the principle of equality of the two countries, the letter said. (hina) lm 132252 MET nov 97