CRO FOREIGN MINISTER HOLDS TALKS WITH BANJA LUKA BISHOP

ZAGREB, Mar 3 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic on Monday held talks with Banja Luka bishop Franjo Komarica, the Croatian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that also present at the talks were the vicar of the Banja Luka diocese, Miljenko Anicic, and the President of the Association of Croats of Northwestern Bosnia. Granic acquainted Komarica with the Government's decision to open Croatia's Consulate General in Banja Luka (north- western Bosnia), expressing confidence that the issue would soon be solved. The remaining Croats in the Banja Luka diocese were looking forward to the opening of the Consulate General, Komarica said, adding that this was because it would signify the improvement of their current situation. He once again reminded of the unsolved issue of the disappearance of Banja Luka parish priests Matanovic and Grgic, whose fate was still unknown. Croatia persisted on a firm implementation of the Washington and Dayton accords, Granic said, stressing that everything was being done in order to protect the remaining Croats in Republika Srpska and to provide care for those who had taken refuge in Croatia. (hina) ha jn 031835 MET mar 97