PORGES DISCUSSES PLOCE-NEUM ISSUE WITH AMERICAN ENVOY

( Editorial: --> 3023 ) DUBROVNIK, Aug 11 (Hina) - The status of negotiations between Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina on the Ploce-Neum Issue was the subject of talks on Tuesday in Dubrovnik between Croatian Economy Minister Nenad Porges and American special envoy Richard Sklar. They discussed the situation in the formation of a bilateral agreement over Croatia's free road access through Bosnia- Herzegovina's coastal resort of Neum, which separates the Dubrovnik region from the rest of mainland Croatia, and Bosnia's use of the nearby Croatian port of Ploce. Also present at the meeting was the United States Ambassador to Croatia William Montgomery. Following the talks, Porges expressed satisfaction and said the discussions were open. But he declined to give details "because it would be still premature for this". "We informed the American envoy Richard Sklar of four items in the contents, which later would have to be an integral part of the agreement," he said. "I also informed of him of the view that there could be a psychological dimension to the reason why there had not been a bilateral agreement reached up to now between Croatia and the (Croat-Muslim) Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina. "I expressed a belief that the efforts of envoy Sklar would help us and the other side to continue our work more peacefully, as was outlined in a recent agreement between American Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and (Foreign) Minister Mate Granic." The first round of official talks between Croatia and Bosnia are expected at the end of August and beginning of September. Sklar, the special US envoy for negotiations on the agreement on free access to the Adriatic Sea, free passage through Neum and use of the port of Ploce, said he was pleased to be able to help in resolving these problems and be informed of the efforts Croatia had made for the reaching of an agreement. Following the talks in Dubrovnik, Sklar will visit Ploce (on the southern Adriatic) and then Sarajevo. (Hina) mbr 111354 MET aug 98