AGREEMENT ON PLOCE PORT STATUS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE - WESTENDORP

( Editorial: --> 7231 ) SARAJEVO, Oct 31 (Hina) - The High Representative for the implementation of the Dayton Agreement in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Carlos Westendorp, said on Friday that the reaching of an agreement on the status of the Croatian port of Ploce was of great importance for Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, stressing that it was encouraging that negotiations were continuing. The status of the Ploce harbour was important to establish because of its significance for the overall traffic, Westendorp told Hina. Notwithstanding the final solution, and whether it would or not include provisions such as the one on confederate connections, it had to be reached on the level of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina because entities did not have the authority to sign international agreements, he said. Westendorp added that his office had not been informed about the content of the most recent suggestion of the Croatian leadership, but be stressed that he would remain involved in negotiation efforts together with American diplomatic representatives, primarily through the Federation Forum. (hina) lm 311442 MET oct 97