SLOVENIA PROPOSES MEETING ON ECONOMIC ZONE IN ADRIATIC

LJUBLJANA, Aug 21 (Hina) - The Slovene Foreign Ministry on Thursday replied to a note from Croatia offering dialogue on issues regarding an economic zone in the Adriatic, and suggested that the matter be discussed at a meeting of the heads of the two foreign ministries' legal services in Ljubljana on September 16. #L# In a public statement on the note which was forwarded to the Croatian Embassy in Ljubljana, Slovene officials reiterate earlier stands saying that "under international law, when declaring an exclusive economic zone, states must respect equal sovereign rights of neighbouring countries" and "must not encroach on maritime areas under their sovereignty and jurisdiction". It is also stated in the note that Slovenia did not hold any formal consultations with Croatia on the issue and that it was not given an explanation regarding Croatia's plans to declare an economic zone despite repeated requests to that effect. It is reiterated that "Slovenia has a traditional and legally protected interest in the Adriatic" and that "it must be included on an equal basis in all activities regarding the Adriatic Sea". Slovene officials also recall an agreement on the sea border between Croatia and Slovenia, initialled by Premiers Ivica Racan and Janez Drnovsek, noting that the agreement needs to be "finally implemented before the declaration of any zone (economic, fishing, ecological and other)" as it "was initialled, confirmed and presented to the public by both governments". (hina) rml