FOREIGN MINISTRY: CROATIA, ITALY CONDUCTING INTENSIVE CONTACTS

ZAGREB, Nov 2 (Hina) - Intensive diplomatic contacts on several levels are being conducted between Zagreb and Rome and the Croatian side still expects a satisfactory explanation from Italy about a contentious decision of Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi to confer a gold medal for war merits on the 1943 Italian government of Croatia's Zadar, the Croatian Foreign Ministry said on Friday. "Intensive diplomatic contacts between Zagreb and Rome are being conducted on several levels. The Croatian side has not yet received a satisfactory explanation from the Italian government about the misunderstanding over the decision to confer a gold medal on the 1943 Italian government of Zadar," a spokesman for the ministry told Hina. He, however, was not able to confirm whether the two countries' foreign ministers, Tonino Picula and Renato Ruggiero, held talks over the phone on Thursday evening, as stated in the Italian daily 'Il Piccolo' on Friday. The spokesman said the ministry would issue a statement after the contacts give concrete results, which could happen as early as next week. According to the Italian daily, Italian Foreign Minister Ruggiero told Croatian counterpart Picula over the phone on Thursday evening that Rome had planned to discuss with Zagreb the contentious medal decision. Ruggiero said Italy did not want to revise history at all, the daily said. (hina) it