LJUBLJANA, Aug 11 (Hina) - The Slovene foreign ministry on Monday issued a response to a note in which the Croatian government explained its intention to proclaim an economic zone in the Adriatic. The ministry stressed that according
to maritime law, Slovenia had the right to declare an economic belt as well, and that it had not been informed by Croatia about its intentions regarding the issue, nor about its talks with neighbouring countries and the EU about the economic zone.
LJUBLJANA, Aug 11 (Hina) - The Slovene foreign ministry on Monday
issued a response to a note in which the Croatian government
explained its intention to proclaim an economic zone in the
Adriatic. The ministry stressed that according to maritime law,
Slovenia had the right to declare an economic belt as well, and that
it had not been informed by Croatia about its intentions regarding
the issue, nor about its talks with neighbouring countries and the
EU about the economic zone. #L#
Officials at the Croatian foreign ministry told Hina the ministry
had received the note from Slovenia and would issue a statement
about it subsequently.
"We stress that in proclaiming an Exclusive Economic Zone, states
must take neighbouring countries' rights and interests into
account and should not interfere with sea areas under the
countries' sovereignty and jurisdiction. When drawing boundaries
for Exclusive Economic Zones, one should consider the regulations
of international law which stipulate an agreed and just solution be
found," the Slovene ministry said in a statement on its response to
Croatia's note.
The ministry also "protests against statements by representatives
of Croatian ministries", stressing that Slovenia "has territorial
contact with the open sea and, therefore, the right to an Exclusive
Economic Zone".
Slovenia expects to become actively involved in talks about the
establishment of economic belts in the Adriatic and considers any
unilateral decisions as unacceptable because it expects to be
included in activities related to the use and protection of the
Adriatic, the statement says.
(hina) lml