LJUBLJANA, May 10 (Hina) - The resolution of open issues between Croatia and Slovenia demands patience because good relations are in both sides' interest, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic said in an interview with a Slovene daily
ahead of his visit there next week.
LJUBLJANA, May 10 (Hina) - The resolution of open issues between
Croatia and Slovenia demands patience because good relations are in
both sides' interest, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic said in an
interview with a Slovene daily ahead of his visit there next week.
#L#
Mesic told the Ljubljana-based Dnevnik he and former Slovene
President Milan Kucan were long-standing friends, and that in
socialist Yugoslavia he and incumbent President Janez Drnovsek had
trodden a "similar path, primarily searching for a peaceful break-
up". "His advice... at that time... was very useful and we still
cooperate," Mesic said.
In the interview, which hit news-stands on Saturday, Mesic said:
"My message at this moment is that we defuse tensions and resolve
each problem separately. Patiently. Because if we throw all the
cards on the table at once, we shall not resolve the problems".
Mesic said the two neighbouring countries had to "agree about
priorities and then make a decision" about the dynamics of
realising them.
"The problems definitely have to be resolved before admission to
the EU. This is in the interest of both states," he said.
Mesic begins his three-day trip to Slovenia on Tuesday, at
Drnovsek's invitation.
(hina) ha