CROATIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER GIVES SPEECH AT PARIS CONFERENCE

PARIS, Nov 14 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic at Thursday's conference on Bosnia in Paris said that Croatia, as a signatory of the Dayton-Paris agreement, reiterated its readiness to participate in the full and unconditional execution of this agreement. Granic stressed Croatia's vital interest for stability and development of neighbouring Bosnia-Herzegovina. "The Republic of Croatia, guided by both its genuine state and national interests and by its international responsibilities, is ready to be closely engaged in the two-year consolidation process in Bosnia-Herzegovina, particularly, through close cooperation with B-H's governmental structures, cooperation with the institutions of the Federation of B-H within the framework of Dayton Accords, through appropriate cooperation with the Office of the High Representative, contact Group and other relevant international institutions," Granic said. With the conclusion of the process of unifying B-H on which the Paris convention focused, the network of institutions in B-H had to be able to function effectively without the direct assistance of the international community, Granic said. "The consolidation period (...) must be built upon the irrefutable notion that the Dayton-Paris accord has no alternative, and that any alternation in the spirit and letter of the Agreement could easily lead to as resumption of hostilities, which would make void all the peacemaking efforts and substantial success to date," Granic said. "Let me emphasize the stance of my Government that the further enhancement of the normalization process between the states adjacent to B-H should be promoted and assisted by the international community (...), fostering at the same time the new comprehensive regional stability and a new security structure," Granic said, stressing that the peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danubian area would also contribute to the stabilization of the situation in the region. Croatia was ready to support and participate in all aspects of regional cooperation, but could not accept any regional associations, he stressed. "However, it is necessary to bear in mind that compelled inter-linkage and excessive conditionality upon the relations among the three states and international institutions, beyond their responsibility for the peace process, eventually may have counterproductive effects," Granic said. "For the consolidation period to be effective it is also essential that the international community continue to support the consolidation and functioning of the Federation as a pillar of the peace process and of the integrity of B-H as s sovereign state, but also as an important asset in laying the foundation for a new euro- atlantic security structure in this part of Europe. Aiming at its gradual disengagement from the complex of the B- H crisis, Croatia will actively support a process of enhancement of self-sustainability of the newly elected network of institutions of B-H, both on a central and a local level. The International community, in particular the Office of the High Representative, can count of Croatia's support and cooperation. Croatia shall also contribute to the consolidation process through the activities of the Joint Cooperation Council established in Dayton as an instrument of enhancement of the Federation and its links with Croatia," Granic said, adding that Croatia would also continue its cooperation with the International Tribunal in its important and irreplaceable work. "However, we expect the Office of the High Representative to elaborate an operational plan for close cooperation with and assistance to all the institutions and offices of the new political structures on the central and especially on the entity level, diminishing its role proportionally to the increasing self- sustainability of the B-H institutions," Granic said. "Special attention should be attached to economic recovery, reconstruction and social rehabilitation programmes, as an important condition of strengthening the sense of stability, but also as a way of ensuring compliance by the parties," Granic stressed. (hina) lm jn 142303 MET nov 96