LJUBLJANA, Aug 11 (Hina) - Slovene Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel has said that he believes Croatia's plans to proclaim an exclusive economic zone in the Adriatic will fail.
LJUBLJANA, Aug 11 (Hina) - Slovene Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel
has said that he believes Croatia's plans to proclaim an exclusive
economic zone in the Adriatic will fail. #L#
In an interview in the central news broadcast on the state
television on Monday Rupel said Croatia's proposal was an "unusual
move" because the Adriatic Sea, as part of the Mediterranean, was
"closed off", which was why no country in the EU - except for Spain
and France - considered declaring an economic belt.
"That would cause chaos in the Mediterranean," Rupel said, adding
that Slovenia's reaction to Croatia's plans was "appropriate" and
not nervous.
Premier Anton Rop commented on Croatia's plans as well, while Rupel
today afternoon talked about the issue on the phone with Croatian
Foreign Minister Tonino Picula.
Rupel said that the wish to solve the issue of declaring an economic
zone in talks between Croatia and Slovenia was more Croatia's wish,
because, he said, Italy as the country chairing the EU "cannot
afford something like that".
A Slovene expert on international law, Miha Pogacnik, dismissed as
incorrect a statement by Croatian Environmental Protection and
Zoning Minister Ivo Banac that the proclamation of an economic zone
in the Adriatic would help Croatia in the prevention of possible
accidents at sea. The regime of rescuing ships in an exclusive
economic zone is not different from the regime in force in
international waters, Pogacnik said in an interview for the state
television.
He also said that Slovenia, too, had the right to declare an
economic zone and have access to the open sea.
Premier Rop said at a news conference this afternoon that Slovenia
would not accept unilateral moves by Croatia with regard to the
economic zone, and that the two countries had a lot in common with
regard to the environmental protection of the Adriatic and should
discuss it.
"At the EU's threshold all European problems are solved in line with
EU standards, on the basis of previous agreement," said Rop, who cut
short his holiday, which he was spending in Croatia.
"I believe that we will be good neighbours and partners in the EU,"
said the Slovene premier, adding that Slovenia had "so far" always
supported Croatia's aspirations to join the EU.
Commenting on why Croatia cannot declare an economic zone, Rop said
that the two countries have still not agreed on the border and that
such a zone cannot be declared without consultations with
neighbouring countries.
(hina) rml