ZAGREB, Croatia (AP)--Bosnia's visiting prime minister was to meet his Croatian counterpart Wednesday in an attempt to soothe tensions that have lingered between the neighbors since the Bosnian war. 

Bosnian Prime Minister Adnan Terzic told Bosnian media he was "not going to Zagreb to argue, but to see how we could close the open questions" that burden relations. 

Both Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia are seeking to join the European Union, and Croatia opened E.U. membership talks Oct. 3. The 25-nation bloc has insisted, however, on more cooperation in the Balkan region. 

The prime ministers of Bosnia and Croatia agreed Wednesday to improve cooperation and speed up work on resolving disputes that have burdened their countries' relations. 

"Politically, it is indisputable that both governments want to maintain cooperation in form of good neighborly relations," Bosnia's Adnan Terzic said after meeting his Croatian counterpart, Ivo Sanader. 

Both Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia are seeking to join the European Union, and Croatia opened membership talks on Oct. 3. The 25-nation bloc has insisted, however, on more cooperation in the Balkan region. 

During Bosnia's 1992-95 war, Croatia backed Bosnian Croats against the country's Muslims. Though relations have since improved, tensions persist. 

Terzic said his brief visit, during which he would meet with Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, aimed to "show that relations between...Croatia and Bosnia are not something that should worry the European Union." 

The two leaders were expected to discuss free trade, as well as Croatian plans to build a bridge in front of a port that is Bosnia's only access to the Adriatic. 

Bosnia has said the bridge would block its access to the sea. Croatia wants the bridge to allow its citizens to reach their country's southernmost areas without crossing Bosnian borders. 

Croatia also was upset by Bosnian Muslims' protest this month against drawings of the Prophet Muhammad, during which a Croatian flag was burned. 

The drawings, first published in a Danish newspaper, have since been published by media worldwide, including in Croatia. 

Bosnian authorities condemned the flag-burning. 

Sanader and Terzic said the two countries' ministers are to meet soon to discuss incentives to mutual trade. They also agreed that experts from the two countries should jointly look at Croatia's plans - to which Bosnia objects - to build a bridge in front of a port that is Bosnia's only access to the Adriatic. 

"We decided to treat it as a technical question," Terzic said. "If we politicians provide good political environment, experts will certainly find a solution that would please both countries." 

Bosnia has said the bridge would block its access to the sea. Croatia wants the bridge to allow its citizens to reach their country's southernmost areas without crossing Bosnian borders. 

February 15, 2006 07:03 ET (12:03 GMT)