LJUBLJANA, Aug 16 (Hina) - Croatia cannot proclaim an exclusive economic zone in the Adriatic without consultations with other countries in the region, and if Italy agrees with Croatia to declare an expanded economic zone, Italian
fishermen will force their government to step down, a state under-secretary at the Slovene Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in charge of fisheries has said.
LJUBLJANA, Aug 16 (Hina) - Croatia cannot proclaim an exclusive
economic zone in the Adriatic without consultations with other
countries in the region, and if Italy agrees with Croatia to declare
an expanded economic zone, Italian fishermen will force their
government to step down, a state under-secretary at the Slovene
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in charge of fisheries has
said. #L#
In an interview with the Maribor-based "Vecer" daily, Franc
Potocnik said that instead of declaring an economic zone in the
Adriatic Croatia would protect its interests in a better way by
declaring a fishing or ecological zone, on the model of Malta and
France. He added that the motive behind Croatia's proposal was its
wish to "claim the Adriatic for itself".
That cannot be done without respecting the interests of Slovenia,
Albania, and Serbia and Montenegro, Potocnik said, describing the
proposal as being in the service of the electoral campaign in
Croatia.
Other Slovene dailies continue the intensive coverage of Croatia's
plans regarding the economic zone. Today's issues of "Dnevnik" and
"Delo" include a dozen commentaries and other articles about the
issue. Among other things, Dnevnik ran an interview with Dr.
Davorin Rudolf, in which it is stated that proclaiming an economic
zone is Croatia's right and that the regime in the economic and
border zone is another matter.
Some commentators have called for a political response to Croatia's
"hostile proposal" and some papers have run letters by readers
about alleged unpleasant situations in Croatian resorts.
(hina) rml