MESIC AND DRNOVSEK DISCUSS CROATIAN-SLOVENE RELATIONS

ZAGREB, Sept 12 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic on Tuesday held talks with the president of the Liberal Democratic Party and former Slovene Prime Minister, Janez Drnovsek, on bilateral relations and open issues between the two countries. Drnovsek and a Slovene delegation are in an unofficial visit to Zagreb, where besides Mesic, they also met the president of the Croatian Social Liberal Party, Drazen Budisa. According to the Croatian President's advisor for foreign policy, Stanko Nick, Mesic and Drnovsek addressed a recently held Millennium Summit in New York, open issues between Croatia and Slovenia, further cooperation in the solving of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia's status with the United Nations, and the problem of the succession to former Yugoslav federation's republics. In a statement for reporters given after the talks, both parties agreed that all open issues could be solved. Commenting on Croatian-Slovene relations, Drnovsek stressed that issues in relations between Croatia and Slovenia which had not yet been solved were the consequences of the break-up of the former Yugoslavia. He expressed belief that conditions for the continuation of negotiations on open issues with Croatia would be improved after parliamentary elections in Slovenia, scheduled for October 15. Drnovsek stressed that in case of the electoral victory of his party, relations with Croatia would be a priority. We believe it is about time to solve the crucial open issue concerning the border, and then all together forget what the border is. When we jointly enter Europe, borders will disappear, Drnovsek concluded. (hina) it jn