SLOVENIA COMMENTS ON 'ZADAR CASE'

LJUBLJANA, Oct 28 (Hina) - A decision of the Italian President to confer a gold medal for war merits on the 1943 Italian government of Zadar due to the suffering of the town during World War II shellings by the Allies is the topic of Slovenian newspaper comments and politicians. Slovene politicians believe the newest "faux pas" is a proof Ljubljana and Zagreb should improve their relations, adding that the decision, after a recent visit of Italian head of state to Zagreb and Pula and Croatia's expectations about "ideal relations with Rome, came to Croatia as a cold shower. Rome and Silvio Berlusconi's government gloat over the fact that Croatia and Slovenia have still not regulated the state border and the Italian policy is famous for knowing how to use "political vacuums" to its advantage, the Slovene radio said on Sunday. The also pointed to the existence of political organisations of Italian refugees from Dalmatia, Istria and the Slovene coastal region, which believe that the border established after WWII is "unjust" and "forced". There is no doubt that Ciampi is receiving letters from such organisations, but it is unacceptable that he accepts their logic, the Slovene radio assessed. (hina) it sb