CHANGE IN CROATIA TO FACILITATE OPEN ISSUES' SOLUTION WITH SLOVENIA

LJUBLJANA, Jan 5 (Hina) - Slovenia's ruling parties maintain that changes in Croatia after the election could be good for the settlement of open issues between the two neighbouring states. According to the Slovene news agency STA, Liberal Democrats (LDS) of Premier Janez Drnovsek believe that open issues will be resolved with less difficulties and in an atmosphere of "skilfulness and political wisdom". President of Christian Democrats (SKD), Lojze Peterle, told STA that hindrances in attempts to solve those bilateral issues, also occurred in "the Slovenian side" due to the lack of harmony between stands of the ruling coalition. Peterle was sceptical about a possibility of speedy resolution of those problems because the current authorities in Slovenia had little time prior to the coming election. President of the Joint List of Social Democrats (ZLSD), Borut Pahor, said all parties in Slovenia should reach agreement on contentious issues. Leader of Social Democrats (SDS) Janez Jansa was more optimistic when he told the Slovene television that the new Croatian Government could show more readiness to settle unsolved issues with Slovenia. (hina) mm ms