"JORAS WASHING MACHINE CASE" CONTINUES

PULA, Dec 7 (Hina) - Jozko Joras, a Slovene citizen living in a village on the Croatian side of the Croatian-Slovene border, who a week ago refused to pay customs duties for a washing machine he bought in Slovenia, will be fined for a customs offence. If he fails to pay the fine within 15 days, he will be subject to compulsory collection, in line with a decision by the Pula magistrates' court. This, however, does not seem to be the end of the "washing machine case." Joras refuses to pay any fines because he does not recognise Croatia's jurisdiction over Milna, the village where he lives. Leaving the Pula Customs Office late last night, accompanied by Marko Sotlar, a representative of the Slovene Embassy in Croatia, Joras said he had not signed the document on his customs offence because, "had I signed it, I would recognise Croatia's jurisdiction over that part of territory." According to Croatian customs laws, Joras is to pay a fine of 15,000 kuna, including the costs of the court procedure and the service of translation into Slovene. Refusal to sign the document does not affect the finality of the court decision. Joras has been known from before for acts which negate Croatia's sovereignty in the border area along the River Dragonja. (hina) rml