NEGOTIATIONS ON CONTINUATION OF EU MANDATE IN MOSTAR FAIL - GASIC

MOSTAR, August 4 (Hina) - Negotiations for the continuation of the European Union Mission in Mostar called Joint Action failed, former EU spokesman in Mostar Dragan Gasic told reporters on Saturday evening. The agreement proposed by the EU on the basis of which it would continue operating in Mostar was accepted by the Bosniac, but not the Croatian side, Gasic said and added that he would report about it to the EU Presidency and Dublin. Gasic said that due to the situation the Joint Action could not begin operating and added that "we're very worried about what has occurred". The Croatian delegation taking part in the negotiations included the president of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina Kresimir Zubak, the president of the Mostar Municipal Council Mijo Brajkovic, co-president of the Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia- Herzegovina (HDZ BiH) Srecko Vucina and the president of the HDZ City Committee Mile Puljic. Safet Orucevic represented the Bosniac side. After the meeting, Brajkovic said that "the final Croatian proposal for the Agreement is almost identical to the EU proposal", while Bosniac negotiators said "we'll go back to negotiations if someone invites us". (hina) ha 041125 MET aug 96