SLOVENE PARTIES OPPOSE CROATIA'S INTENTION TO SET UP ECONOMIC ZONE

LJUBLJANA, Aug 7 (Hina) - Slovene political parties find Croatia's intention to proclaim an exclusive economic zone in the Adriatic unacceptable and expect a determined response from the Slovene government, the Ljubljana-based Delo daily reported on Thursday quoting statements by parliamentary parties. #L# Roman Jakic, a member of parliament of the leading opposition party, the Liberal Democrats, told Delo that "the EU is in principle opposed to establishment of such zones." He added that such a move by Croatia would mean "prejudging the delimitation of the border". Miran Potrc of the Joint List of Social Democrats said that the Slovene government must reject Croatia's intention to establish an exclusive economic zone and that the two countries "must address issues through negotiation even in pre-election times." The Slovene People's Party, a member of the ruling coalition, said that the issue of economic zone in the Adriatic could not be resolved without Slovenia. Opposition parties expressed similar views, while the Slovene National Party (SNS) described the Croatian move as an act of provocation by which Croatia "wants to deny Slovenia access to the open sea." "That's why we are increasingly convinced that an urgent international conference on succession to the Adriatic Sea should be held in Belgrade," SNS leader Zmago Jelincic said. (hina) vm sb