CROATIAN-BOSNIAN COOPERATION COUNCIL MEETS IN ZAGREB - STATEMENT

ZAGREB, May 11 (Hina) - The Joint Council for Cooperation between Croatia and the Republic and Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina held its second session in Zagreb on Saturday to discuss the progress of implementing the Washington and Dayton accords. The Council also assessed the implementation of hitherto concluded intergovernmental agreements and agreed on signing agreements on property and other relations, the Croatian President's Office said in a statement. Under the chairmanship of Council President Franjo Tudjman, the delegations of Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Bosnian Federation agreed that it was in the interests of the Croatian and Bosnian Moslem people and of the two countries to consistently implement the Washington and Dayton agreements and to further strengthen the Federation and its economic and other ties with the Republic of Croatia. The delegations of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Bosnian Federation were headed by their respective presidents, Alija Izetbegovic and Kresimir Zubak. The Council expressed satisfaction with achievements in the implementation of the said agreements and the strengthening of the Federation. After the session, the prime ministers of the three governments, Zlatko Matesa, Hasan Muratovic and Izudin Kapetanovic, signed a contract on implementing the agreement which grants the Bosnian Federation access to the Adriatic Sea through the territory of Croatia and a contract on implementing the agreement between the Federation and Croatia which ensures Croatia passage through the territory of the Federation. The Council estimated that the implementation of the two agreements on the use of the port of Ploce and passage through Neum municipality would further contribute to the strengthening of mutual relations, economic cooperation and that they were in the interest of reconstruction and development. It was agreed that expert and other negotiations at government level should be completed within a period of one year with a view to concluding a permanent agreement on Ploce and Neum. Considering hitherto signed agreements on econonomic, trade and other relations, the Council positively assessed their importance for development of mutual relations. Particular attention was paid to a draft agreement on property-rights relations which was adjusted and ready to be signed at the next sessions of the governments. Also discussed were initiatives for signing agreements on water management, telecommunications, construction of joint customs houses and other activities. The Council recommended the governments to consider until their next sessions an initiative for establishing a joint reconstruction committee and a centre for coordination of scientific and technological cooperation. The federal and local authorities should start functioning efficiently and a federal defence law should be passed in line with the Dayton agreement and the federal constitution as soon as possible, which would be the subject of talks due to take place in Washington next week. The three delegations stressed their readiness for cooperation in curbing terrorism. The Council estimated as very useful compliance with time limits and creation of necessary conditions for elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina in accordance with the Dayton agreement and rules laid down by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Concerning elections in Mostar, it was agreed that deadlines set by the EU Administration should be observed and that people who had lived in the town until 1991, and who were now refugees and displaced persons, should be allowed to freely return to Mostar to participate in the elections without their refugee status being changed. The Council also focused on the progress of implementing the protocol on cancelling visa requirements for people living in the Federation, and agreed an urgent meeting of representatives of the the interior ministries, the Croatian government office for refugees and displace persons, and competent Bosnian ministries to solve open issues. The meeting stressed the need for further full cooperation with the UNHCR. The Council said that the majority of refugees who had been accommodated at the Kupljensko refugee camp had returned to Bosnia- Herzegovina and that therefore this humanitarian action should be brought to a close through joint efforts and in cooperation with the UNHCR. The Council proposed the extention of the mandate of the joint police force of Turkey, Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina deployed in the area of northwestern Bosnia-Herzegovina. It said that the amnesty law was in effect and the cantonal and municipal authorities would provide maximum guarangees for the safety and dignity of returnees. Those who meet necessary requirements will be allowed to leave for third countries. The Council discussed in detail the Petersberg agreement on the urgent implementation of a pilot project for return of refugees to Stolac, Jajce, Travnik and Bugojno. It was agreed that the most urgent return of refugees should be ensured, with additional efforts of the Bosnian government and the UNHCR in providing necessary financial resources for reconstruction. In this context, the Council reaffirmed agreements on full freedom of movement and human rights and freedoms. The Council discussed the remaining open territorial and administrative issues in the Bosnian Federation and agreed that the setup of cantonal and municipal governments in two ethnically mixed cantons in central Bosnia and the Neretva river valley should be stepped up. It also considered requests for establishing new municipalities and agreed that these issues would be most urgently addressed by the Bosnian Federation president and vice president, Kresimir Zubak and Ejup Ganic. The Council recommended accelerating the implementation of previous agreements on the setup of Sarajevo as a canton, city and district. The Federation government and the Sarajevo city administration would jointly consider outstanding issues from housing legislation to enable the return of people to Sarajevo as soon as possible. The Council supported an initiative to make it possible through changes in legislation for the Bosnian Moslem minority to elect one representative to the Croatian parliament in conformity with the Croatian constitution. The Council stressed the special role and responsiblity of the media in the implementation of the Washington and Dayton agreements and recommended greater media cooperation, the statement concluded. (hina) vm 111817 MET may 96