B-H AUTHORITIES GIVE CONSENT FOR AGREEMENT ON PLOCE PORT

( Editorial: --> 9237 ) SARAJEVO, Sept 9 (Hina) - Representatives of the Bosnian authorities on Wednesday signed an agreement authorising the signing of an inter-state agreement with Croatia on the use of its southern port of Ploce by Bosnia-Herzegovina. The agreement was signed by B-H Presidency Chairman Alija Izetbegovic, the co-chairman of the Council of Ministers, Haris Silajdzic, and the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Mirsad Kurtovic, Izetbegovic's office said in a statement. Special US envoy Richard Sclar and Deputy High Representative in Bosnia-Herzegovina Jacques Klein attended the signing ceremony, after which they left for Zagreb. Silajdzic told the Bosnian state radio that the signing of the document meant that the Bosnian side "is giving consent for the possible content of the inter-state agreement". He added that a regular negotiating procedure was expected to take place. The Council of Ministers will conduct that procedure on behalf of the Bosnian authorities, Silajdzic said adding the agreement would in the end be ratified by the state parliament. "The agreement will mean a lot for economy and for relations between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia and I think it should have been signed a long ago," Silajdzic said. (hina) jn rml/sp 091638 MET sep 98