CROATIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS SPEAK TO ISTRIAN FISHERMEN

SAVUDRIJA, Aug 14 (Hina) - Members of the Croatian parliament - Damir Kajin (Istrian Democratic Assembly - IDS) and Zlatko Kramaric (Liberal Party - LS) on Wednesday spoke with local fisherman in Savudrija, Istria, about the latest events and incidents with Slovenian fishermen in the Piran Bay. #L# Kajin said that he suggested that Slovenian and Croatian fishermen should refrain from any incidents on the sea and that inter-state issues should be left to the relevant bodies to resolve. I absolutely agree with everyone who claims that what has been happening recently on the demarcation line between Croatia and Slovenia, is a territorial and not fishing conflict, Kajin said. He added that any incident in Piran Bay should be avoided because that side that causes any incident will appear defeated in the eyes of any third party. Kajin believes that neither the Croatian nor Slovenian authorities are capable of resolving the situation and that the conflict will more than likely have to be resolved by a third party. He added that the situation in Piran Bay is beginning to take its toll on citizens themselves, particularly those living along the border. Estimating that the conflict could certainly affect relations between Croatian and Slovenia, Liberal Party president Zlatko Kramaric stressed that Croatia needed to protect its national interests but also the interests of fishermen in the region. I believe that the problem of Piran Bay should be resolved peacefully and with common sense, he said. (hina) sp ms