DIPLOMATIC CORPS CONGRATULATES IZETBEGOVIC ON INDEPENDENCE DAY

SARAJEVO, March 1 (Hina) - President of the Presidency of Bosnia- Herzegovina, Alija Izetbegovic, on this Day of Bosnia's Independence received the members of the diplomatic corps, led by their doyen, Croatia's Zdravko Sancevic. Sancevic said the 1992 referendum was the expression of the will of the majority of the people of Bosnia-Herzegovina for Bosnia to become an independent state. He said the Moslem and Croat decision to defend their newly- won independence, set up a federation and enter into confederation with Croatia, was proof of their maturity. "This has been confirmed by over 100 countries that recognised Bosnia-Herzegovina and established diplomatic relations with it, as well as by the presence of us diplomats here in Sarajevo on this great Day," Sancevic concluded. (hina) mm as sd 011921 MET mar 95