CROATIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE:RACAN-DRNOVSEK AGREEMENT UNACCEPTABLE

ZAGREB, Sept 11 (Hina) - Tuesday's agreement between the premiers of Slovenia and Croatia concerning the start of commercial fishing in the sea is unacceptable for Croatian fishermen because it does not take into account the fundamental principle of an agreement based on mutual interest, the Fishermen's, Aquaculture and Agriculture Guild within the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HOK) said on Wednesday. The Guild said that Croatian fishermen did not have any interest in fishing in Slovenian territorial waters and estimated that there were no realistic presumptions to revive the start of the application of the Croatian-Slovenian agreement on cross-border traffic and co-operation that relates to commercial fishing on the sea. The proposal on a possible compensation in practise is inviolable for fishermen in that section of Croatia's sea which does not only pertain to the domicile Istrian fishermen but fishermen from other parts of Croatia as well. The Guild emphasised that Tuesday's agreement between Racan- Drnovsek did not take note of their demands. That is why Croatian fishermen have asked the Government to postpone the commencement of the application of the Agreement with regard to commercial fishing in the sea until the interest of fishermen were harmonised mutually without unilateral exclusiveness that the Slovene side was resolutely expressing. (hina) sp it ha