CROATIAN AND GERMAN DEFENCE MINISTERS MEET IN ZAGREB

ZAGREB, Jan 23 (Hina) - The European Union administrator of Mostar, Hans Koschnik, would decide on Wednesday whether he would mediate in efforts by the Moslem and Croat sides to reach agreement on Mostar, Croatian Defence Minister Gojko Susak said in Zagreb on Tuesday. "The talks are still in progress. Koschnik will make a decision tomorrow. If the sides fail to reach agreement, they have agreed that he can mediate. We'll have a decision tomorrow, which is a reason for optimism," Susak told reporters after meeting German Foreign Minister Volker Ruehe. Ruehe, who visited German troops deployed in Trogir and Benkovac as part of NATO's peace Implementation Force (IFOR) for Bosnia-Herzegovina, stressed Germany's interest in Mostar. Ruehe supported all efforts aimed at stabilizing the situation in the town and emphasized the importance of Mostar for the successful organization of the Bosnian Moslem-Croat federation and the overall peace process. Susak said that Croatia and Germany were planning to increase military cooperation. The two countries would exchange expert teams this summer and Susak would visit Germany in autumn when a military cooperation agreement was expected to be signed. The talks were also attended by Croatian Army Chief of Staff General Zvonimir Cervenko and German Ambassador to Croatia Horst Weisel. (hina) vm 232155 MET jan 96