LJUBLJANA, March 20 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic on Sunday took part in a popular Slovene panel at the Puppet Theatre in Ljubljana, addressing Slovenia-Croatia relations, the two countries' becoming independent, his view of
former Croatian President Franjo Tudjman, and the situation in Southeast Europe. Mesic arrived in the Slovene capital on Sunday for a two-day visit. Sunday was the official and private part of his stay, when he attended ski jumping on Planica at the invitation of Slovene President Milan Kucan. Speaking about Croatia-Slovenia relations and the situation in the region, Mesic pointed to the importance of good neighbourly relations. "Piran Bay won't be an issue in associated Europe. Serbia must democratise and find its Adenauer," he asserted. A border in Piran Bay is one of the most serious open issues between Croatia and Slovenia. We have to make a schedule for resolving open issues, Mesic
LJUBLJANA, March 20 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic on
Sunday took part in a popular Slovene panel at the Puppet Theatre in
Ljubljana, addressing Slovenia-Croatia relations, the two
countries' becoming independent, his view of former Croatian
President Franjo Tudjman, and the situation in Southeast Europe.
Mesic arrived in the Slovene capital on Sunday for a two-day visit.
Sunday was the official and private part of his stay, when he
attended ski jumping on Planica at the invitation of Slovene
President Milan Kucan.
Speaking about Croatia-Slovenia relations and the situation in the
region, Mesic pointed to the importance of good neighbourly
relations.
"Piran Bay won't be an issue in associated Europe. Serbia must
democratise and find its Adenauer," he asserted.
A border in Piran Bay is one of the most serious open issues between
Croatia and Slovenia.
We have to make a schedule for resolving open issues, Mesic said,
adding good and successful negotiations according to Western
standards are those which leave both sides satisfied, and no side
cheated.
Mesic said the support Croatia had been given after the change of
authorities earlier this year had been only verbal, although there
were indications of possible actual assistance. Croatia can become
an economic and financial centre of the region if it abides by
European standards and expands them, the president said.
Speaking about his attitude towards the late Franjo Tudjman,
Croatia's first president, Mesic said the root of his falling out
with Tudjman lay in the policy towards neighbouring Bosnia-
Herzegovina (BH).
Tudjman is responsible for Croatia's becoming independent as
President Kucan is for the independence of Slovenia, Mesic said,
adding also it was under Tudjman Croatia had won last decade's war.
However, he added, Tudjman's model of privatisation and policy
towards BH were completely wrong.
"The forces which were breaking up BH from Croatia are no longer at
the forefront in Croatia, and I expect the same thing in Serbia
tomorrow," the Croatian president said.
Mesic also touched upon the "black telephone" which recently was
found in Tudjman's office and established to have been a connection
with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.
Mesic said it was a "special telephone, for one gentleman on either
side," adding Tudjman and Milosevic were thus "always available for
one another."
Many prominent politicians from Slovenia and Croatia have taken
part in the "Pomenkovanja" panel at the Ljubljana Puppet Theatre.
The panel is organised by Ciril Ribicic, an Associated List of
Social Democrats representative in the Slovene parliament.
Attending yesterday's panel were also Slovene President Kucan, his
wife, the chairman of the Slovene parliament's committee on
international relations, Jelko Kacin, and many dignitaries from
both countries.
(hina) ha jn