SLOVENIAN PRESIDENT: CROATIA'S STATEMENT ADDING FUEL TO FIRE

LJUBLJANA, Aug 21 (Hina) - Slovenia's President Milan Kucan on Wednesday told Slovenian Television that comments made by Croatian politicians in response to statements by Slovenia's Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel about the demarcation line in Piran Bay just added fuel to the fire and could not possibly be a substitute for serious and responsible inter-state dialogue. #L# Kucan said that attitudes relating to Piran Bay that were brought out by Slovenia's Foreign Minister represented "our common view". He added that making daily statements would not resolve the problem. Asked to comment on the stance of Croatia's Foreign Minister Tonino Picula regarding arbitration, Kucan said that during his last official visit to Zagreb there was mention of such an option. "I said then that in principle this cannot be rejected, however, arbitration virtually represents an incredulous method of politics and is only an alibi because of the failure and inability of politicians to take on or be prepared to take on responsibility before one's own public", Kucan added. "While I was in Zagreb, I said, and I stand behind my claims, that I am responsible for the entire border and not just that section in the sea", Kucan said. Asked to comment on the arrest of a Slovene citizen in Pula, Kucan said that incidents like that did not benefit anyone and did not help to resolve problems. He added that everyone was responsible for their actions, firstly before their own and then the international public. (hina) sp lml