MINISTER GRANIC ADDRESSES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

ZAGREB, Feb 2 (Hina) - "The pressure on Croatia has increased in the past 48 hours, especially because of accusations of Croatian army presence in Bosnia-Herzegovina. This is part of a strategic plan of pressure on Croatia, which can be expected to increase," Foreign Minister Mate Granic said in his address to the House of Representatives of the Croatian Parliament, following a debate on current political issues. Denying allegations that Croatian army formations were present in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Minister Granic quoted his letter to the Security Council, in which he said that only 1,500 to 2,000 volunteers, born in Bosnia-Herzegovina, were fighting there on Croatian Defence Council's side. "On the other hand, there is no doubt that there are even more volunteers from various Islamic countries fighting on the Moslem side. Their number is assessed as three to six thousand, maybe eight," Minister Granic said. Minister Granic stressed that "it was most important, at the present juncture, to insist on a cease-fire, the normalisation of Croat-Moslem relations and the continuation of talks with the Serbian side." Minister Granic enumerated the strategic priorities of the Croatian foreign policy: the reintegration of temporarily occupied areas, a just peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the resolution of all pending issues between Croatia and the neighbouring countries and admission to European integration processes and security mechanisms, both global and regional. Minister Granic pointed out that the liberation of occupied areas by military force would result in an "immediate and total isolation" of Croatia. Although Milosevic was not prepared to give up his policy, external factors and internal pressure were forcing him to negotiate, Granic said. Announcing tomorrow's meeting with the Italian Foreign Minister, Minister Granic said the death of the Italian reporters in Mostar complicated the situation, but Croatia was determined to talk openly about all issues. Speaking of European integration processes, Minister Granic recalled that 70 Council of Europe missions had so far visited Croatia. 021836 MET feb 94