STATEMENTS OF PREMIERS VALENTIC AND SILAJDZIC AFTER ZAGREB MEETING

MEETING $ ZAGREB, July 14 (Hina) - Croatia's and Bosnia-Herzegovina's Premiers, Nikica Valentic and Haris Silajdzic, held a press briefing upon today's meeting of the two governments' delegations in Zagreb. They told reporters that the Zagreb meeting had been a step forward in crating closer relations between the two countries. Croatian Premier Valentic could not say when the two countries might sign first agreements, devised during the work of the formed governments' joint groups. According to Premier Valentic, the groups are to tackle a large scope of issues and problems. He added that a dozen of agreements and deals would be signed afterwards. Asked whether those agreements would establish confederate relations between the two countries, Croatian Premier replied that a confederation was the final goal, drawn up in the Washington agreements and the Vienna documents, but it would take much time to pave the way to the customs and monetary union. "We have to be realistic," stressed Premier Valentic. His counterpart Silajdzic pointed out that one of the burning issues, discussed at today's session, was the problem of refugees. According to the Bosnian premier, this problem would be dealt with for many years. Premier Silajdzic also said that the two sides were conducting talks on the joint venture and jobs of Croatia's and Bosnia-Herzegovina's economies in the third countries. This cooperation would commence in the countries that support both Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. 142100 MET jul 94