CROATIA JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER YOHEI KONO VISIT

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(30 Apr 1995) Jap/Eng/Nat • • Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono promised financial help for Croatia and Bosnia today (Sunday). • • On his two-day visit to Croatia, Kono went to a refugee camp 100 kilometres from Zagreb. • • He also met with Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and Bosnia's Vice-President Ejup Ganic. • • Bosnian Vice-President Ejup Ganic met with Japan's Foreign Minister Yohei Kono on Sunday morning. • • He announced Kono's promise of $ (US) 200-thousand for a reconstruction of Bosnia's besieged capital of Sarajevo. • • Japan will also provide $(US) 14 million for humanitarian aid to Bosnia and an additional $ (US) 256-thousand for financing the monitoring of Serbian borders with Bosnia. • • SOUNDBITE: • That is a significant contribution of peace in the area. I really thank the Japanese government. • • SUPERCAPTION: Ejup Ganic, Vice-President of Bosnia • • Bosnia is hoping for more though - there were also discussions on diplomatic relations between Sarajevo and Tokyo as Ganic pressed the case for official recognition. • • Kono next met with Mate Granic, the Croatian Foreign Minister - who was presented with this plan of a refugee camp. • • Japan is donating $(US) 7-million towards the camp. • • It is intended to house one-thousand out of 370-thousand displaced persons and refugees in Croatia and will be built by September 1995. • • Kono them met Croatian President Franjo Tudjman, as well as the UN Special Envoy Yasushi Akashi. • • While no great decisions were made, the two sides are hoping for fruitful relations in the future. • • SOUNDBITE: (Translated from the Japanese) • • Through my meeting with the President and many other dignitaries I am impressed with the Croatians determinations to make their maximum efforts for the peaceful settlement of the conflicts. • • SUPERCAPTION: Yohei Kono, Japanese Foreign Minister • • The foreign minister is now on his way back to Japan - and officials in the former Yugoslavia continue to hammer out last ditch attempts to extend a ceasefire which is due to expire tomorrow (Monday) • • Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork • Twitter: / ap_archive • Facebook: / aparchives • Instagram: / apnews • • • You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...

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