SIMONOVIC: CROATIA'S DECISION IS NOT DIRECTED AGAINST SLOVENIA

ZAGREB, Oct 5 (Hina) - Croatia's decision to proclaim a protected ecological and fishing zone in the Adriatic Sea is not directed against Slovene fishermen and Croatia is willing to immediately start talks to solve border issues with Slovenia, Croatian Deputy Foreign Minister Ivan Simonovic has said in an informal response to a note Slovenia forwarded in protest against Croatia's decision to expand jurisdiction in the Adriatic. #L# Only a few hours after the Croatian parliament decided to declare a protected ecological and fishing zone on Friday, the Slovene foreign ministry sent a protest note, claiming, among other things, that the decision prejudged the final sea border between the two countries. "Croatia is for solving the question of borders if not through direct talks, then through international arbitration," Simonovic said in a interview with Sunday's issue of "Vjesnik" daily. During last week's talks between a Croatian delegation and European Commission (EC) officials in Brussels, the EC officials recommended that open border issues between the two countries be solved through compulsory arbitration. In his recent statements, Slovene Prime Minister Anton Rop, too, said that arbitration would be an acceptable solution. It is very important for the authorities in Zagreb to send a message to the EU that Croatia has protected its national interests, but is open for talks with all interested parties - Slovenia, Italy and the EU, Simonovic said. (hina) rml