CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVES BIG-POWER CONTACT GROUP ENVOYS

ZAGREB, May 22 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic on Wednesday received ambassadors of the Contact Group member states and Italy, which currently holds the presidency of the European Union, a Foreign Ministry statement said. The Contact Group ambassadors delivered a joint demarche of their governments concerning arms control negotiations, currently being held in Vienna under the auspices of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which should be concluded by June 6 under Annex 1B of the Dayton peace accords. It was fully agreed that the Vienna talks should be brought to a successful close. Granic said that Assistant Foreign Minister Ivan Simonovic would head the Croatian delegation to the final stage of the Vienna negotiations. Croatia reiterated its willingness to fully cooperate in the disarmament process and fulfil all commitments from the Dayton peace agreement. (hina) vm mm 221829 MET may 96