STATEMENT ON TALKS BETWEEN CROATIAN AND BOSNIAN DELEGATIONS

SARAJEVO, June 14 (Hina) - The delegations of Croatia and Bosnia- Herzegovina, headed by Presidents Franjo Tudjman and Alija Izetbegovic, held talks in Sarajevo on June 14 on promoting mutual relations in all fields, particularly in defence from the common aggressor, economic and humanitarian cooperation and the processes of establishing the Bosniac-Croat federation and a confederation with Croatia, said a statement from today's talks which was read out at the beginning of a press conference. The two presidents first held a long conversation in private and were later joined by the president and vice-president of the Federation, Kresimir Zubak and Ejup Ganic, the statement said. The two presidents believe that the mutual recognition of all states which have emerged after the collapse of the former Yugoslavia and the international control of the borders of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina with Serbia and Montenegro, in keeping with UN Security Council resolutions 787, 838 and 769, would be a necessary step toward the establishment of a lasting peace in this part of the world. Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia hereby confirm their adherence to peace and a negotiated settlement of all conflicts, and their highest representatives find it necessary that the international community provide a firm guarantee that aggression will be put to a stop and that human rights and the territorial integrity of both countries will be fully respected, the statement said. It was agreed that the work of joint commissions would be aimed at making the passage of Bosnian citizens and commodities through Croatia easier. The commissions will work out a joint approach to solve the problem of return of all refugees to their homes and opening of all communications, especially the Split- Mostar-Sarajevo-Zenica-Tuzla road. The Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina supports the Republic of Croatia in all its legitimate efforts to reintegrate peacefully and without delay the temporarily occupied Croatian territories into Croatia's constitutional, legal and economic system. Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina will build together two bridges on the Sarajevo- Ploce railway. Resources will be provided by Bosnia-Herzegovina and construction works will be carried out by Croatia. The two states reached an agreement in principle on the use of the Adriatic port of Ploce. Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia will work out a joint strategy for talks on succession to the former Yugoslavia in relation to the Islamic countries, in particular Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the statement said. The two states agreed on joint representation in third countries through joint delegations. In order to rationalize the diplomatic network, Bosnian embassies in certain countries will support Croatian interests and vice versa. They also agreed that problems relative to property should be dealt with without delay, in accordance with bilateral agreements. The two presidents agree that it is necessary to remove individuals opposing the establishment of the federation and confederation. The aim of the talks between the highest government delegations of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina is that all disagreements should be settled in permanent and close cooperation of representatives of the two countries. Croatian President Franjo Tudjman invited President of the Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina Alija Izetbegovic and President of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina Kresimir Zubak to visit Croatia. The invitation was accepted with pleasure, concluded the statement. 141957 MET jun 94