CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVES US ENVOY

( Editorial: --> 2865 ) ZAGREB, Aug 10 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic on Monday received Richard Sklar, the US envoy mediating in negotiations on the agreement between Croatia and the Bosnian Federation on free access to the Adriatic, free access through Neum and the use of the Croatian Ploce harbour. Granic informed Sklar about the situation in the region before the general elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina scheduled for September, stressing Croatia's support for the consistent implementation of the Washington and Dayton agreements. A Foreign Ministry statement said Granic had stressed that negotiations on the Agreement on Special Relations with the Bosnian Federation were under way, as well as for the Economic Cooperation Agreement between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia. Speaking about the agreement on free access to the Adriatic and through Neum and the use of the Ploce harbour, Granic stressed that it was in the interest of Croatia to end these negotiations successfully, keeping in mind that a final solution to the use of this Croatian harbour was in the interest of both countries, and without jeopardising the sovereignty of the Republic of Croatia. Sklar expressed satisfaction with Croatia's approach towards the negotiations about the Ploce harbour and access through Neum (Bosnia-Herzegovina) which would, on a commercial basis, contribute to the further strengthening of cooperation between Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, and to the stability in the region, the statement said. (hina) lml 101548 MET aug 98