SOME PROGRESS MADE AT PLESO TALKS, AHRENS, GALBRAITH SAY

ZAGREB, Nov 15 (Hina) - Economic talks between the Croatian Government and local Serb representatives are being conducted in separate task groups, and some progress has been achieved, international mediator Geert Ahrens told reporters. The Croatian Government delegation is led by Hrvoje Sarinic, while the Serbs are represented by Borislav Mikelic and his assistants. Ahrens said the two delegations and other participants would hold a joint meeting later today. US Ambassador Peter Galbraith confirmed that some progress had been made but there were still several major issues to be solved. He said the talks touched on the difficult and disturbing situation in the Bihac pocket, but would not reveal any details. Babic, a rebel Serb leader, did not arrive with the Serb delegation and Galbraith said could not explain why. Ahrens announced that if the talks went on for too long, the Serbs would probably fly to Belgrade, not to Knin, for what has been explained as "technical reasons". (hina) mm as sd 151528 MET nov 94