SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATIONS WITHIN FEDERATION FORUM - GRANIC

SARAJEVO, Aug 30 (Hina) - Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic supported the Agreement on the Normalization of Relations Between the Republic of Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during a meeting with Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic held in Sarajevo on Friday. "President Izetbegovic thinks that it's a significant contribution to peace and stability in the region and a very important achievement for Croatia and this whole area", Granic told reporters. Today's meeting paid particular attention to the strengthening of the Federation as the basis of Bosnia-Herzegovina (BH) according to Dayton, Granic said, pointing out that Croatia firmly supported Bosnian elections, which, according to him, would be held in spite of certain reservations expressed today by Izetbegovic, in particular regarding the registration of voters on the basis of form P-2. "Without elections there can be no integration, which means questioning the whole peace process", Granic said and confirmed that it had been agreed in principle for the Council for Cooperation Between Croatia, BH and the Bosnian Federation to convene in September. Commenting on today's meeting of the Federation Forum, presided by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State John Kornblum, Granic said that considerable progress had been achieved in relation to the organization of Sarajevo and that the two sides were very close to a solution. Croat and Bosniak representatives also continued with the harmonization of stances regarding the reorganization of the Investigation and Documentation Agency, which should function within the Federation. The Forum also discussed the tariff system. "Even though there were no final solutions at today's Forum, it's certain that negotiations, especially regarding Sarajevo, have progressed", Granic concluded. (hina) ha jn 302022 MET aug 96