MADELEINE ALBRIGHT & KLAUS KINKEL TO VISIT SARAJEVO ON MONDAY

( Editorial: --> 6610 ) SARAJEVO, Aug 28 (Hina) - Bosnia-Herzegovina expects of the United States further support and assistance in overcoming open issues in relations with Croatia, a spokesman for Bosnian Presidency chairman Alija Izetbegovic's office said in Sarajevo on Friday. Spokesman Adamir Jerkovic explained the open issues with Croatia referred to the southern Croatian port of Ploce, passage through Neum, Bosnia's access to the Adriatic Sea, and property issues. He spoke to reporters on the occasion of the upcoming visit of the US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. On Monday Albright will, as has been announced, meet with Izetbegovic and the Croat member in Bosnia's collective Presidency, Kresimir Zubak. German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel is also expected to visit the Bosnian capital on Monday, for talks with Izetbegovic and Zubak, and the Premier of the Croat-Muslim Federation of BH, Edhem Bicakcic. The Albright visit to Sarajevo comes at a time of electoral preparations, Jerkovic said, adding this was being interpreted as support to democratic political forces. "The US is Bosnia's most significant diplomatic partner and we see Madeleine Albright's visit as further continuation of America's principled policy towards our country and region", the spokesman said. Jerkovic assessed the Albright visit came at the right time also because partners in the Federation of BH were reviving theses on the securing of exclusive national territories which, he said, were at one time put forward as cantonal rearrangement, believed by the Muslim side as a possible danger to the Dayton peace agreement. During his visit to Sarajevo, Kinkel will also open a Volkswagen car factory in Vogosca. According to Jerkovic, talks with Kinkel will focus on the issue of refugees and their return. The official Sarajevo believes their return should be slowed down until conditions are provided for a return throughout Bosnia. (hina) ha 281545 MET aug 98