WUNENBURGER AND MIMICA ON WORSENED CROATIAN-SLOVENE TIES

ZAGREB, Sept 2 (Hina) - The head of the European Commission's Delegation in Zagreb has described the latest developments in Croatian-Slovene relations -- the diplomatic war between the two neighbours -- as really "amazing". #L# "I can only tell you that consultations are taking place as well in Brussels between Slovenia and the European Commission. The only thing I can say from my personal view is that the developments which are taking place for the time being...I think it is amazing," Jacques Wunenburger said in Zagreb on Tuesday. Asked by a reporter to comment on Slovene officials' statements that Ljubljana would reconsider its further support to Croatia's bids to come closer to the European Union and to say whether Slovenia could make problems for Croatia on that road, Wunenburger said he could not give any official answer to those questions. Reporters asked him to comment on this topic after the ceremony of the signing of an agreement on financing the CARDS programme for 2003. The document was signed by European Integration Minister Neven Mimica on behalf of the Croatian government. Commenting on the worsening of bilateral ties and Slovenia's announcement to reconsider its support to Croatia on its road to the EU, Mimica said Zagreb believed that the European Union was capable of making decisions pertaining to its enlargement and common foreign and security policy on the basis of the consent and joint positions of EU member countries. "The EU's final stance on Croatia's application for membership will depend on all EU member-states ... and not on the stand of one member," Mimica said. The minister recalled that Zagreb had so far only expressed the intention of exercising its international right to proclaim an exclusive economic zone and that it had shown readiness to talk with other countries in the Adriatic region on the model of exercising that right. (hina) ms sb