PRESS CONFERENCE BY CROATIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL

ZAGREB, March 7 (Hina) - Representatives of the Croatian National Council of Bosnia-Herzegovina (body established at last month's Sarajevo Congress of Bosnian Croats) called the Croatian public at today's press conference to "put aside all fears" concerning the Washington preliminary agreement to create a Bosnian federation of Moslems and Croats, confederally linked to Croatia. According to the Council, the Croatian media struck a suspicious attitude toward the political, military and constitutional rapprochement between Croats and Moslems, downplaying the positive aspects of the agreement. Expressing satisfaction with the "readiness of the Bosnian authorities to implement the agreement," the representatives noted that President Izetbegovic "was willing to address the Croatian public and explain the interest of the Bosnian authorities." The Council announced talks with representatives of Croats from Herzegovina. Asked what common ground they could find with Herzegovina Croats, the Council representatives said it could be inferred from President Tudjman's address to the nation concerning the Washington agreement. 071459 MET mar 94