SESSION OF PRESIDENTIAL DEFENCE AND NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL

ZAGREB, March 4 (Hina) - The Presidential Defence and National Security Council on Friday discussed the preliminary agreement on the arrangement of Bosnia-Herzegovina as a federation of sovereign people and the confederation of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia, signed in Washington on Tuesday. The Council considers the signing of the Agreement to be a historical event which strengthens the independent and sovereign Croatian state and ensures Croatian presence in Bosnia-Herzegovina, said a statement issued after the session. The Council further praised President Tudjman and the Croatian delegation for their efforts in reaching the agreement. The Croat-Moslem agreement is not intended against the Serbian side; rather, it makes it possible to find a solution acceptable to the three peoples of Bosnia-Herzegovina, said the statement. The agreement is a success of the consistent Croatian policy and marks its acceptance by major international factors. It also marks a change in attitude of the US and the leading European countries toward greater resoluteness in seeking a solution to the crisis in Bosnia-Herzegovina and former Yugoslavia. The Agreement significantly boosts Croatia's international status, as Western and Croatian interests coincide, said the statement. Croatia is no longer threatened by sanctions. On the contrary, full support has been given to the security of the Croatian state, a more expedient reintegration of the UNPAs and the return of the refugees. Assistance in the reconstruction of the country has been pledged and there are new perspectives for economic co-operation, as the agreement has been welcomed not only by the West but also by the Islamic countries, said the statement. The Croatian Government will submit concrete requests for financial assistance to the US, the EU and various financial institutions. A delegation has been appointed to continue the talks in Vienna, preparatory to the signing of the final agreement at the highest level, said the statement. The Council also discussed the impending expiry of the UNPROFOR mandate to Croatia. It was decided that the Croatian side will demand of the UN Security Council to order the implementation of concerete measures, particularly those aimed at ensuring border security, said the statement. Reviewing the process of normalisation of Croatian-Serb relations, the Council concluded that it should be continued, but that it should be made clear to the other side that Croatian and international interests will no longer tolerate the UN Resolutions to be ignored. 042045 MET mar 94