ZAGREB, July 18 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan on Wednesday said the political atmosphere in Croatia at the moment was not favourable for the signing of a Croatian-Slovene border agreement. Asked whether the Croatian
parliament would support the border agreement between the two countries, Racan said he did not expect the support at this moment. The Prime Minister addressed reporters after a four-hour session of the parliament's foreign policy committee, at which he and Foreign Minister Tonino Picula informed members of the committee of the achievements in the solving of open issues in relations with Slovenia, including the border issue and the issue of the Krsko nuclear power plant. "We cannot solve open issues without a compromise. Those who are not ready for a compromise advocate that we fight and see who is going to win," said Racan answering to a series of questions on reactions of MPS
ZAGREB, July 18 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan on
Wednesday said the political atmosphere in Croatia at the moment
was not favourable for the signing of a Croatian-Slovene border
agreement.
Asked whether the Croatian parliament would support the border
agreement between the two countries, Racan said he did not expect
the support at this moment.
The Prime Minister addressed reporters after a four-hour session of
the parliament's foreign policy committee, at which he and Foreign
Minister Tonino Picula informed members of the committee of the
achievements in the solving of open issues in relations with
Slovenia, including the border issue and the issue of the Krsko
nuclear power plant.
"We cannot solve open issues without a compromise. Those who are not
ready for a compromise advocate that we fight and see who is going to
win," said Racan answering to a series of questions on reactions of
MPS regarding the proposed solutions for the Croatian-Slovene
border.
"We need to take time and think about what is in the national
interest," Racan said.
Proposals on the demarcation of the border were not made public, but
the Slovene party said that in line with the proposal, Slovenia
should get two thirds of the Bay of Piran and an exit to open sea.
Also proposed is that the frontier district were Slovene MP Jozko
Jokas lives be included in Slovenia. Jokas is known to the Croatian
public for causing several incidents by ignoring Croatian
regulations while crossing the Croatian-Slovene border.
Racan said a compromise should be achieved also to the benefit of
Croatian citizens, in Gorski Kotar for instance.
Speaking about possible solutions for Piran Bay, Racan said also
considered was a solution in line with which Croatia would have
territorial seas on both sides of the Slovenia's exit to open sea,
thus the immediate border with Italy.
According to unofficial information, representatives of all
parliamentary parties but the Social Democratic Party (SDP)
opposed the proposed solutions for the Croatian-Slovene border,
while the Croatian Peasants' Party abstained from voicing its
opinion.
Asked whether the government could do the same as it did with a
cross-border agreement, namely that both governments confirm the
agreement and later gain public's and parliament's support, Racan
said this was a bad solution.
Foreign policy committee president Zdravko Tomac said the
committee adopted Racan's report and supported government's
determination to solve open issues.
Also present at the session were deputy parliament speakers,
representatives of parliamentary benches and other interested
MPs.
(hina) it