STATEMENTS BY IZETBEGOVIC, ZUBAK AFTER TALKS WITH TUDJMAN

ZAGREB, Jan 24 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman today received President of the Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Alija Izetbegovic, and Bosnian Federation President Kresimir Zubak. The talks focused on the establishment of the Moslem-Croat Federation and the current situation in Bosnia, Izetbegovic told reporters, describing the talks as "useful and constructive." "I told President Tudjman about the current talks on the implementation of the cease-fire agreement and about Contact Group activities to revive negotiations," Izetbegovic said. "President Tudjman told me about various problems arising from his decision to end the UNPROFOR mandate." "We also discussed relations between Croatia and Bosnia- Herzegovina - I insisted on the signing of 14 bilateral agreements that have been waiting since this summer," he said. "We agreed that there are big difficulties in the implementation of the federal Constitution," he said, adding that Zubak and Ganic would set up an expert group to deal with the difficulties as they arose. Zubak spoke about yesterday's talks in Sarajevo involving himself, Federation Vice-President Ejup Ganic and US and British representatives to the Contact Group, which dealt with the continuation of talks with the Serbian side. "Our position is clear," he said. "The Serbs should recognise the Contact Group peace plan for Bosnia as a basis for talks. We are cooperative and open to suggestions." Agreeing with the views expressed by Izetbegovic, Zubak said there was no contention within the Federation regarding the Contact Group plan. Referring to problems in the implementation of the federal Constitution, Zubak pointed out that Bosnia was still plunged in a war whose outcome was by no means certain. "These are the main reasons why we cannot hold uninterrupted talks on the implementation of the Constitution," he said. But disagreements in the interpretation of the Constitution were not impossible to overcome. "There is still a readiness and a will to build the Federation as we had agreed - today both sides unreservedly supported the implementation of the Constitution," Zubak said. "We have coordinated our views and are acting as political partners, that is, as one delegation composed of Moslems and Croats. The Serbs must accept the Contact Group plan as a basis for further talks," Zubak concluded. (hina) jn as vm 241727 MET jan 95