FUTURE E.U. COMMISSIONER FROM SLOVENIA WELCOMES POSITIVE OPINION ON CROATIA

LJUBLJANA, April 22 (Hina) - The future European Union commissioner from Slovenia, Peter Potocnik, has welcomed the positive opinion from the European Commission about Croatia's EU membership application, but advised caution when announcing full membership.#L# "The avis is a positive signal to Croatia as well as to the entire region, which has been given a European perspective," Potocnik said in Ljubljana on Thursday at a farewell conference for reporters covering the work of the Slovene government. Potocnik has served for three years as minister of European affairs and head of the negotiating team with the European Union. Asked when Croatia could join the bloc, Potocnik said that giving any dates might be a double-bladed sword as any set date must be credible and feasible. Potocnik, who will work in the European Commission's department for enlargement, said he would not interfere in Slovene-Croatian relations. "Bilateral issues between Croatia and Slovenia will remain bilateral issues. I must not and cannot interfere in that, and commissioners take an oath pledging they will act in supranational interests," he said. Slovenia's first commissioner is to be confirmed by the European Parliament at its plenary session early next month. (Hina) vm