MESIC ADDRESSES PANEL ON DECADE OF CRO., SLOVENE INDEPENDENCE

ZAGREB, June 18 (Hina) - The Slovene-Croatian Friendship Society and the Croatian-Slovene Friendship Society on Monday held a panel in Zagreb to mark a decade of Croatian and Slovene independence from the former Yugoslav federation. Opening the "Ten Years Later" panel, Croatian President Stipe Mesic recalled the war which broke out ten years ago, when he was the president of the ex-Yugoslavia. "We have to take our relations with Slovenia back to the level of our political relations at the time of gaining independence," said Mesic. He added the open issues between the two countries could be settled, and that this should be done now, given that both sides were willing to do so. Speaking about recommendations for the future, the Croatian head of state said Croatia and Slovenia should "turn to united Europe where decisions pertaining to the economy (and) finances will be made through democratic mechanisms, and each people will live in their entire cultural sphere." "Wars for borders will no longer be possible. Associated Europe will definitively exclude war as a political means," said Mesic. Attending the panel were also Martin Spegelj and Josip Boljkovac, Croatia's defence and interior ministers respectively in 1991, as well as Janez Jansa and Igor Bavcar, Slovenia's defence and interior ministers respectively, also in 1991. (hina) ha