FOREIGN MINISTER GRANIC'S INTERVIEW WITH CROATIAN TELEVISION

ZAGREB, May 21 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic gave an interview with Croatian television political broadcasting ('Slikom na Sliku' programme) last night. Asked whether UN troops were likely to be pulled out from Bosnia-Herzegovina Minister Granic answered this was one of four options, but undesirable for major international factors, particularly for the United States. Granic said because of that reason the USA tried to find a way out from a vicious circle through direct negotiations with Belgrade by support of the five-nation Contact Group officials. According to Granic, Contact Group members do not favour military intervention against Bosnian Serbs, but they back the isolation of the Bosnian Serb leader Karadzic. "Karadzic can not be isolated without strong support of Belgrade, and, therefore, the USA are negotiating with Belgrade. Americans are trying to agree to a firmer control of the border between Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, and to the mutual recognition between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia on the other hand," Granic said adding that Milosevic might expect the easing of sanctions for such a move. Commenting on Croatia's attitude toward the UNCRO mandate Granic said Croatia was doing its best so that the UNCRO mandate be carried out. "We will fulfill all provisions of UN Security Resolution 994," Granic said adding that Croatia had showed it could not tolerate terrorism any longer or let solutions for re- establishment of control over its occupied areas be delayed eternally. Speaking of the recent action of Croatian police in liberating western Slavonia Granic said the internationally community accepted the success of the action with surprise. "We have told the international community that we are ready to do what we have done," he stressed and added that Croatia was not exposed to threats of sanctions but faced pressure. According to him Croatia was still facing pressure, but it was decreasing and therefore "Croatia will fulfill everything it promises, and what is in its and international strategic interest." Granic said that in this case the strategic interest of Croatia was to solve the problem of its occupied areas with the assistance of the international community. "This is important because of Croatia's involvement in European integration processes," Granic said. Asked why it was not demanded from Milosevic to recognize Croatia Granic said that an original idea of the present French Premier Alain Juppe was that Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia recognize each other simultaneously. "However, Milosevic has no strength to make two recognitions (both of Bosnia and Croatia) in the same act. This is assessment of international factors. The basic motive of the international community is to stop the war in Bosnia before and to find a peaceful solution," Granic said. According to Granic, by recognizing only Bosnia Milosevic would like to isolate Karadzic and, at the same time, to put in question stability of the (Croat-Moslem) Federation and the implementation of the Washington Accords. Granic said the Bosnian Federation was progressing very well, and he had been assured of that during his latest visit to Zenica and Mostar and talks with the Federation's leaders and Bosnian Croat representatives as well as his meeting with Bosnian and Turkish Foreign Ministers Ljubijankic and Inonu respectively while touring Bosnia. He described the Zenica talks as very constructive and added that practically no difference exited between views of Turkey and Croatia on Bosnia. Commenting on possible resumption of talks on the Z-4 plan Granic said Croatia might accept the plan as a base for further negotiations, but not as contents for talks on the peaceful reintegration of temporarily occupied Croatian areas. He said that in this respect there were proposals grounded on the Croatian Constitution and Constitutional Law as well as on the peace initiative of President Tudjman. According to Granic, the success of Croatian police in liberating western Slavonia exposed deeper disagreement and stratification within Croatian Serbs on the occupied areas. "According to our estimates, more than 100,000 Serbs have left occupied areas of the Republic of Croatia, because there are no good life, no production and no protection of human rights (in the areas in question)," Granic said adding that sheer military dictatorship had been set up in the occupied territories. Granic believed that even more profound dissension might ensue between those Serbs who opted for war and linking with Karadzic and those who favoured the talks on the reintegration. Granic said Croatia was making efforts that Belgrade recognize the Republic of Croatia as soon as possible, but not at any price. (hina) mms 211203 MET may 95