SLOVENE MINISTER SUPPORTS DIFFERENTIATED APPROACH TO WESTERN BALKAN COUNTRIES

LJUBLJANA, March 8 (Hina) - Western Balkan countries should be differentiated when their applications for membership of the European Union are treated, and Ljubljana should strongly support Croatia's membership bid because it is also in Slovenia's vital interest, Slovene Minister for European Affairs Janez Potocnik told a round table discussion on relations between Slovenia and Western Balkan nations.#L# The discussion was held at the initiative of President Janez Drnovsek as part of talks on the future of Slovenia in the European Union. Potocnik's opinion is seen as very important because he will become EU co-commissioner for enlargement on May 1 when his country joins the bloc. "Slovenia supports the policy of the EU that has given the countries in the region clear European prospects. Our interests are in many ways identical because through intensive involvement with the region Slovenia can gain a wider political recognition," Potocnik said. He said that Brussels should use a "concentric circles" approach in financially helping the best prepared countries in the region to take over European legislation. He described Croatia as "the most mature potential candidate" for EU membership. The discussion heard that Slovenia had large business interests in the Western Balkans, because this region accounted for 18 per cent of its exports, with Croatia being a major importer of Slovene products. (Hina) vm sb