STATEMENTS BY CHRISTOPHER, GRANIC, SILAJDZIC, ZUBAK

WASHINGTON, Mar 2 (Hina) - After four days of intensive negotiations fostered by the United States, a framework agreement for creating a bi-communal federation in Bosnia was signed March 1 in Washington. US Secretary of State Christopher, who hosted the ceremony at the State Department, termed the signing "a hopeful and significant moment in the history of the people of Bosnia-Herzegovina," said a release issued by the US embassy to Croatia. "This agreement shows how much can be accomplished even after bitter years of violence when the two sides sit down together and work as hard as these two sides have to reach an undestanding," Christopher said. "It shows that peace is possible, but only if disputes, once enflamed by arguments of force, are resolved by the force of argument." Craotian Foreign Minister Granic described the agreement as the "first, historical step." "Croatia is hoping that the peace process will follow the present course. We will continue working toward a final agreement," Minister Granic said. Bosnian Premier Haris Silajdzic said the agreement "would not have been possible without the American leadership actively seeking a negotiated settlement in Bosnia." "I hope and pray this is a first step toward peace," he said. Bosnian Croat representative Kresimir Zubak said: "Today I am convinced that we took the first step toward the establishment of peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina." US Secretary of State Warren Christopher added he also hoped the "agreement will provide a basis for a larger political settlement with the Bosnian Serbs." 021108 MET mar 94