GRANIC FOR HTV ON MUSLIM-CROAT PRELIMINARY AGREEMENT

WASHINGTON, March 2 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic today commented at the Croatian TV evening news the preliminary agreement on the Croat-Muslim federation in B-H and the confederation between B-H and Croatia signed yesterday in Washington. Granic said: "This will be a strong union. The contract on economy, currency, customs and other issues was signed. This is the first step, we will continue with negotiations in Vienna on the final agreement and try to conclude the work by March 15. The Croats and Muslims will further their negotiations with the Serbs, so that they too would join the federation or that some other kind of agreement with them be reached". "As far as the UNPAs are concerned, we are expecting a very active UNPROFOR mandate in the upcoming period, particularly concerning the protection of Croatian borderline, disarmament, restoration of communications and peaceful reintegration in the Croatian legal system. We are ready for negotiations with local Serbs (from UNPAs) on local autonomy and for international monitoring of respect and protection of human rights, especially the rights of minorities in Croatia", Granic said. 022125 MET mar 94