SLOVENIA REQUESTS EC OFFICIAL STANCE ON ECONOMIC BELT

LJUBLJANA, Aug 18 (Hina) - Slovene Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel and Agriculture Minister Franci But have sent a letter to EU Agriculture and Fisheries Commissioner Franz Fischler, requesting the European Commission's official stance on Croatia's intention to proclaim an economic zone in the Adriatic, the Slovene foreign ministry said in a statement Monday. #L# In the letter Rupel and But expressed Slovenia's view of the matter, be it the proclamation of an exclusive economic zone, a fishing or ecological zone, the ministry said. The ministers stressed that Slovenia was very interested in environmental protection of the Adriatic and its balanced economic exploitation, as well as in the joint solving of said issues with the cooperation of all Adriatic countries. Before any kind of zone is proclaimed in the Adriatic, Slovenia expects the initialled border agreement between Croatia and Slovenia to be adopted in both countries. Only after the agreement is adopted can it be possible to start talks on the possible establishment of zones in the Adriatic, the foreign ministry said. (hina) lml