CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS BANJA LUKA BISHOP

ZAGREB, March 4 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic on Monday received the Roman Catholic Bishop of Banja Luka, Franjo Komarica, a Foreign Ministry statement said. Granic informed his guest about meetings in Rome and Split where Croatia had reaffirmed its commitment to the establishment and strenghtening of the Bosnian Croat-Moslem Federation and cooperation between the governments of Croatia and the Republic and Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Komarica thanked the Croatian government for its assistance in alleviating the plight of Croats in the Banja Luka area of northern Bosnia-Herzegovina. Komarica expressed hope that since the peace agreement had been signed, 7,000 remaining Croats would be able to defend their rights through legally elected authorities and that conditions would be created for the return of refugees and displaced persons. Croatia would continue to provide assistance to the Croats in Banja Luka and elsewhere in Bosnia-Herzegovina in cooperation with the Bosnian government, Granic said. (hina) vm 041325 MET mar 96