GRANIC AND KINKEL ADDRESS PRESS CONFERENCE

ZAGREB, Feb 13 (Hina) - Croatia would do its best so that a compromise solution be found during negotiations between Bosnian Croat and Moslem representatives. Croatia condemned attacks against the EU Administrator of Mostar, Hans Koschnik, Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic said during a press confference he held with his German counterpart, Klaus Kinkel. As regards the main topic at the press conference - the situation in Mostar - Germany's Kinkel said that the EU, the German Government and he personally firmly supported Hans Koschnik and his decision on the organization of Mostar. "We cannot say that the Croatian Government has complete influence on what is going on in Mostar, but there are still some ways for Croatia to act there," Kinkel said, adding that he had asked from the Croatian Government Officials to use that influence in preventing events similar to those which had happened in Mostar recently. "Mostar and Sarajevo must remain symbols of a multiethnic society," Kinkel said. Croatian Foreign Minister Granic expressed his conviction that a solution for Mostar would be found, adding it should be a solution which would be welcomed by the European Union as well. "The solution must be such that it ensures existence, equality and possibility of both Croats and Moslems to retain their cultural and ethnic identity," Granic said. Asked why the Croat side refused to accept Koschnik's arbitration although it had announced it would do so, Granic answered that during Kinkel's recent visit to Mostar, it was the Croat side which had proposed the central district to be introduced on the right bank of the Neretva river. Some federal, canton and municipal institutions would be set up in that district. Later, during the Croatian Defence Minister Gojko Susak's visit to Mostar, Koschnik had made a new proposal on the size of the district, which was an extended version of the first proposal. "It was still acceptable to the Croatian side," Granic said. However, the last proposal, practically introduced "a fourth municipality with Moslem majority' Granic added. "There is a considerable difference between the two proposals. The central district is at least three times as big as had been considered previously," Granic said. He expressed his optimism concerning the reintegration of the Croatian Danubian area into the Croatian constitutional and legal system, "because there are clear agreements, as well as Resolution 1037 of the Security Council and the determination of the Temporary Administrator Jacques Klein to implement the agreements. We also expect support from Belgrade", Granic said. (hina) lm mm 132045 MET feb 96