A BRIEF LOOK AT CROATIAN PRESS ON TUESDAY

ZAGREB, March 7 (Hina) - Today's VJESNIK devotes the whole front page to yesterday's talks between President Tudjman and US Deputy Foreign Secretary, Richard Holbrooke. The issue also covers a press conference held in Parliament by Liberal MP Bozo Kovacevic. "The latest events in the Judicial Council, the way the media ignored Justice Minister Ivica Crnic's resignation letter to the Prime Minister, and the announced cancellation of broadcasts of Parliament sessions have prompted Kovacevic to demand an extension of the next session's agenda," the paper said. Subject to party approval, Kovacevic intends to call President Tudjman to account for this situation. "If the papers ignore my press conference, that in itself will constitute sufficient evidence of the degree of democratic liberties in Croatia," Kovacevic said. A comment piece by Inoslav Besker, headlined "Guarantees to Italian Minority", discusses relations with Italy after last week's meeting of the Italo-Croatian Joint Commission. "It is evident that relations with Italy have never been seriously jeopardised at state level, despite violent right-wing reactions and the concern voiced by other political factors over the Feb 2 Constitutional Court ruling quashing certain provisions of the Istria County Statue. Foreign Minister Susanna Agnelli voiced the Government's concern only at a session of the House of Representatives foreign policy committee and did not refer to the matter again," the comment piece said. Today's VECERNJI LIST also covers Tudjman's meeting with Holbrooke and the setting up of the joint Croatian army and Bosnian Federal army command. A comment piece, headlined "Who is to Control Croatian Borders," stresses the importance of the appropriate control of the Croatian state borders and disengagement lines. "Croatia wants an efficient control of its borders - meaning troops with a clear mandate - and observers posted along the disengagement lines." A comment piece by Nenad Ivankovic, headlined "How to Avoid Getting Squeezed" discusses the view of four western defence ministers that "everything must be done to persuade the Croatian President to revoke his decision to end the UNPROFOR mandate." (hina) mm as 071154 MET mar 95