GRANIC'S INTERVIEW WITH CROATIAN TELEVISION

ZAGREB, March 4 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic commented on a Croatian-Moslem preliminary agreement, signed in Washington on Tuesday during US-hosted talks, in a Croatian television broadcast late Thursday night. Speaking of reactions to the agreement, Minister Granic said "we have to be patient and explain all advantages the Croatian people, both in Herzeg-Bosnia and Croatia, would have with this agreement." Referring to estimates by some Bosnian Croat politicians that the agreement did not include territorial guarantees, Granic pointed out that it provided multiple guarantees. "Croatia is very interested in a confederation based on a modern customs, monetary and economic union as well as on defence alliance, a joint military command and a confederative council. As for the Croats in Bosnia-Herzegovina, guarantees have been given at several levels," he said. Speaking of cantonal autonomy and jurisdiction, Granic said the cantons would have authority over police, education, culture and housing. "There are responsibilities that will be exercised at a federal level, there are common responsibilities and those that will be exercised exclusively at a cantonal level," he said and noted that the cantons would be federal units. According to the Croatian foreign minister, the issue of the number of cantons had not yet been addressed, except for Herzegovina, western Bosnia and Posavina, each of which would constitute a canton. As for central Bosnia, Granic said that several options were open, and that the exact number of cantons would be discussed in the next ten days. Asked how to return at least 20 per cent of Serb-held Bosnian territory under Moslem and Croat control, Granic replied "through negotiations, with firm international backing." He stressed that the Serbs would be offered to join in under the same conditions, while "the other option was that they retain certain relations with the (future Bosnian Moslem-Croat) federation as proposed by the European Union. According to Granic, international views would play the crucial role for the Bosnian Serbs' decision as well as the application of all methods that had proved fruitful in recent days. The Croatian foreign minister reiterated the agreement was not aimed against the third party. "I think Croatia has made a firm commitment with both the signature (on the agreement) and today's address by President Tudjman, which has encountered favourable international reception. I can say that the signing of the agreement in the United States has won almost unanimous recognition among diplomats at the Security Council and the United Nations. We intend to pursue this path," Granic emphasized. Concerning guarantees given by the international community that occupied Croatian territories would be restored to Croatia and that financial assistance and cooperation at a military level would be provided, Granic said: "Such guarantees do not exist on paper, but I have been discussing the matter with US Vice President Al Gore, (General) John Shalikashvili, Secretary of Defence William Perry and Secretary of State Christopher. And not only that ... numerous solutions from the Kinkel-Juppe Plan are also acceptable, but need more specification." "What is most interesting to us is, of course, the reintegration of the UNPAs into the legal and administrative system of the Republic of Croatia, and that's what I've discussed with the UN secretary general. We will draw up our proposal by the middle of this month and will seek guarantees and support from the United States, the European Union and other important international factors," the Croatian foreign minister stressed. 041253 MET mar 94