SLOVENES ENDORSE EU, NATO MEMBERSHIP

LJUBLJANA, March 23 (Hina) - According to exit polls broadcast on Sunday evening by the national television and a commercial TV station, Slovenes supported their country's admission into the European Union and NATO at today's referendums. #L# An exit poll broadcast by the national television shows 92.7% support for EU membership, while an exit poll broadcast by POP TV shows that 90.3% of voters support EU membership. Another exit poll by the national television showed that 60.3% of voters support admission to NATO, while an exit poll broadcast by POP TV shows 56.1% support for NATO membership. Data on the voter turnout are not known yet and incomplete official results will be released by the state electoral commission later this evening. President Janez Drnovsek and Premier Anton Rop expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the referendums, stressing they confirmed that the government's policy over the past 10-12 years was the right one. Drnovsek did not expect any problems with the ratification of an agreement on admission to NATO in the US Senate even though his government distanced itself from the US stands and was more supportive of European views towards the war in Iraq. (hina) rml