CROATIAN, SLOVENE PRIME MINISTERS SPEAK OVER THE PHONE AGAIN

LJUBLJANA, Aug 23 (Hina) - Slovenia's Prime Minister Janez Drnovsek and Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan once again spoke over the phone on Friday in an attempt to resolve the latest problems in relations between the two countries. #L# As stated by the Slovene premier's cabinet, the long phone conversation, the third in the past ten days, focused on the current situation. Both premiers supported a calming of the situation and putting an end the negative spiral of incidents. "An agreement was reached to try and find a constructive and positive way to continue good neighbourly and friendly relations. Our governments will continue to be in contact at various levels, including the prime ministerial level, in an attempt to find an adequate solution," the statement read. The president of the Slovene parliament previously told the news agency STA that he had proposed a meeting between the countries' parliamentary delegations, which could help dissolve the current tension in relations caused by recent incidents regarding the demarcation line in Piran Bay and the arrest of Slovene citizen Jozko Joras, who is currently in the Pula jail. With regard to the Joras case, almost all Slovene parties - currently preparing for the forthcoming municipal and presidential elections - have said they support his release and have proclaimed him a political prisoner, which, they claim, is why Slovenia should internationalise the case. (hina) sp rml sb