ZAGREB, Feb 25 (Hina) - Croatia is expected to respond, in the course of this day, to announcements of Slovene fishermen to catch fish in the whole of the disputable Bay of Piran. It is unacceptable that Slovene authorities, no matter
whether they are local or state, treat the Bay of Piran as the entire bay is their own, an assistant to Croatian Foreign Minister, Josko Paro, told Hina on Thursday. The Zagreb-based daily "Vecernji List", quoted Croatian fishermen as saying that their Slovenians counterparts are being poised to catch mullets in the Croatian part of this bay. This move is contrary to an agreement on preventing incidents, Paro said adding that Croatia would respond to such announcements in the course of the day. I do not believe that Ljubljana is behind this, Paro said expressing his fear that local authorities are likely to be behind it. The sea border in the
ZAGREB, Feb 25 (Hina) - Croatia is expected to respond, in the
course of this day, to announcements of Slovene fishermen to catch
fish in the whole of the disputable Bay of Piran.
It is unacceptable that Slovene authorities, no matter whether they
are local or state, treat the Bay of Piran as the entire bay is their
own, an assistant to Croatian Foreign Minister, Josko Paro, told
Hina on Thursday.
The Zagreb-based daily "Vecernji List", quoted Croatian fishermen
as saying that their Slovenians counterparts are being poised to
catch mullets in the Croatian part of this bay.
This move is contrary to an agreement on preventing incidents, Paro
said adding that Croatia would respond to such announcements in the
course of the day.
I do not believe that Ljubljana is behind this, Paro said expressing
his fear that local authorities are likely to be behind it.
The sea border in the Bay of Piran between Croatia and Slovenia has
been a moot point for years. Slovenia has insisted that the entire
bay (until the Croatian coast of the Bay) be its own in order to get
its access to an open sea.
On the other hand, Croatia cannot accept the change of its border
and reiterated it has ready to go to international arbitration.
Considering the unimpeded access to the open sea, Croatia has
signed an international convention which guarantees such access
for Slovenia to international waters.
During last week's meeting in Ljubljana, Croatian and Slovene
Foreign Ministers, Mate Granic and Boris Frlec, failed to move
forward in this field, but they agreed to seek a transitional
solution to this border dispute.
The ministers said both sides were willing not to politicise border
issues and to avoid incidents.
The Slovene daily "Delo" on Wednesday quoted Slovene Premier Janez
Drnovsek as saying that negotiations with Croatia on sea border are
good and solid.
As regards arbitration, Drnovsek said his government would accept
arbitration if it were sure Slovenia would profit more from it than
from negotiations.
(hina) jn ms