RACAN AND DRNOVSEK TO PROMOTE CLOSE COOPERATION

LJUBLJANA, Jan 23 (Hina) - Croatia's future premier-designate Ivica Racan and Slovene Premier Janez Drnovsek on Saturday said they believed the two countries would have a vary successful cooperation. "I am confident that we will have a very successful and close cooperation and that we will be efficient in solving the remaining problems," Racan said after meeting Drnovsek in Ljubljana. The Croatian premier said he would try to show that problems which existed between the two countries were not serious and that "governments which can solve rather than augment those problems exist". Congratulating Racan on the electoral victory, Drnovsek said Slovenia wanted to see a European country on its south-east border. Croatia will have an ally in Slovenia on its path, he said. "Slovenia will try to speed up that process," Drnovsek added. Following the meeting with Drnovsek, Racan was a guest at a political panel called "Chit-chat", organised at the Ljubljana Puppet Theatre by the president of the opposition Joint List of Social Democrats (ZLSD), Ciril Ribicic. The event was also attended by Slovene President Milan Kucan. (hina) rml