SLOVENIA REJECTS CLAIMS FROM CROATIAN DIPLOMATIC NOTE

LJUBLJANA, Aug 19 (Hina) - The Slovene Foreign Ministry acknowledged the receipt of a Croatian diplomatic note on Tuesday night, in which Croatia explained its position on proclamation of an economic zone in the Adriatic Sea. #L# Slovenia reiterated its previous stance, saying that it found the Croatian idea unacceptable, and added that the claim by Croatia that its consultations with Slovenia were in progress "does not stand". The Slovene ministry said in a statement that it "will study the Croatian note and respond to it in an appropriate manner." "However, we wish to stress that Croatia, despite several requests by Slovenia through notes, has never officially consulted Slovenia nor has it informed Slovenia of its official position on the possible proclamation of an exclusive economic zone." The statement went on to say that Slovenia received a letter from Croatia in May saying that Croatia would set up a commission to look into the possibility of declaring zones in the Adriatic. Slovenia said then it would take this fact into account, and stressed that it also had its "traditional and legally protected interests" in the Adriatic and that it had to be part of "any activities regarding the Adriatic Sea." Slovenia said it "has always been ready for dialogue on the joint sustainable development, protection and use of the Adriatic Sea," and expected "adequate official explanations from Croatia." It added that it "supports a negotiated and just solution in accordance with the provisions of international law and the rules and practice of the European Union." The statement reiterated Slovenian views from a previous note that Slovenia attached importance to "the compromise solution to the shared border from 2001", a reference to an agreement initialled by the prime ministers of the two countries, which gives Slovenia "direct territorial access to the open sea". The Slovene ministry stressed that the document "was accepted by both governments". (hina) vm