CROATIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES BOSNIAN CROAT OFFICIALS - STATEMENT

BRIJUNI, Aug 19 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on Monday received a delegation of Bosnian Croat officials, the President's Office said in a statement. Tudjman said that the best possible results had been achieved in the protection of interests of the Croatian people in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The President said that now it was necessary to carry out a parallel transfer of authority from the Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia and the central government of Bosnia-Herzegovina to the Bosnian Federation and cantonal authorities. The transfer of authority should be carried out in keeping with the Washington and Dayton agreements and the joint statement from Geneva, he added. Federation President Kresimir Zubak informed Tudjman about the process of authority transfer, noting that international officials had confirmed that it should be a parallel process as had always been emphasized by representatives of the Croatian people. The president of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bozo Rajic, spoke of preparations for elections scheduled for September 14. He said that Croats were prepared to make it possible for other parties to hold unimpeded rallies and conduct election campaigns, but that they expected the same for the HDZ. The participants agreed that it was necessary to set up a body that would bring together and protect the interests of the Croats in the Bosnian Federation. Tudjman said that the Federation was in the interest of the Croatian people in Bosnia-Herzegovina and a strategic interest of the Croatian state and the Croatian people as a whole. Croatia would remain committed to the full implementation of the Washington and Dayton accords and the protection of interest of the Croatian people in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the President said. The Bosnian Croat delegation included, among others, Bosnian Foreign Minister Jadranko Prlic, Federation Defence Minister Vlado Soljic, Croatian Defence Council (HVO) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Zivko Budimir and Mostar Mayor Ivan Prskalo. Croatian officials attending the meeting were, among others, Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa, Defence Minister Gojko Susak, Presidential Chief of Staff Ivo Sanader, Presidential Home Policy Adviser Ivic Pasalic and Croatian Radio and Television Director Ivica Mudrinic. (hina) vm 191641 MET aug 96