U.S. AMBASSADOR MEETS DUBROVNIK MAYOR

DUBROVNIK, Jan 21 (Hina) - U.S. Ambassador to Croatia, Peter Galbraith, today visited Dubrovnik and met with Dubrovnik Mayor Nikola Obuljen. #L# In his address to the press, Galbraith spoke about his visit to Sarajevo, stressing the good impressions he had of the situation in the city, especially as regards the deployment of IFOR troops. Military tasks were being carried out better than had been expected, Galbraith said, adding that the implementation of the civil part of the agreement was being carried out somewhat slower. He expressed concern as regards the lack of progress in the implementation of the project of the Federation of Bosnia- Herzegovina, stressing the problem of Mostar and asked from Bosniacs and Croats to turn to the assignments they had agreed on. It was very important to speak about Mostar in Dubrovnik, because peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina was a precondition for the revival of Dubrovnik economy. The implementation of provisions of the peace agreement and the success of the agreement on the establishment of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina had greater importance for Dubrovnik than for any other part of Croatia, Galbraith said. As regards the demilitarization of the Dubrovnik hinterland, Galbraith said the Croatian army officials had informed him that the Croatian army had withdrawn from that part of Bosnia- Herzegovina. The other side had done the same. Galbraith also expressed satisfaction with the fact that the mandate of international forces on the Prevlaka peninsula had been extended for three months. It was obvious that the situation around Prevlaka would have to be solved by future negotiations, Galbraith said, adding however that he agreed with the standpoint of the international community that Prevlaka was part of the sovereign territory of the Republic of Croatia and that all questions concerning its status had to start from this standpoint. (hina) rm 211337 MET jan 96