LJUBLJANA, Oct 4 (Hina) - Slovene President Janez Drnovsek on Saturday expressed "regret at the Croatian government and parliament's proposal to unilaterally proclaim a protected fishing and ecological zone in the international waters
of the Adriatic," his office said in a statement.
LJUBLJANA, Oct 4 (Hina) - Slovene President Janez Drnovsek on
Saturday expressed "regret at the Croatian government and
parliament's proposal to unilaterally proclaim a protected fishing
and ecological zone in the international waters of the Adriatic,"
his office said in a statement. #L#
Slovene parliament speaker Borut Pahor, too, expressed regret at
the decision Croatia's parliament reached yesterday.
Drnovsek is also surprised that Croatia is continuing to do things
which the European Commission has recommended not doing and which
are contrary to expectations in Italy and Slovenia, his office
said.
A joint solution for the Adriatic Sea, in which Slovenia is
interested, should be sought in agreement with all Adriatic
countries, Drnovsek's office said.
Pahor said Slovenia would respond to Croatia's move "in a
thoughtful and level-headed manner". He stressed the Croatian
parliament made its decision even though "prior talks with
neighbouring countries and the European Union were not held".
"Croatia, of course, is entitled to that step, but is exercising
this right in a way that infringes on our rights," he said, adding
that he was referring to "the possibility of precluding Slovenia
from accessing the open sea" and international waters.
Slovene Prime Minister Anton Rop's office said that he held talks
with his Italian counterpart Silvio Berlusconi in Rome earlier
today where both are attending a conference on EU reforms.
"Both prime ministers are concerned about Croatia's unilateral
proclamation of the ecological and fishing zone and have agreed the
foreign ministers of Slovenia and Italy would define a joint stance
on the matter next week," Slovene news agency STA said quoting
sources close to Rop.
(hina) ha sb