SLOVENE AND CROAT FOREIGN MINISTRIES FOCUS ON ISTRIAN VILLAGES

( Editorial: --> 3791 ) ZAGREB, Aug 15 (Hina) - Croatian and Slovene Foreign Ministers will meet on August 25 to discuss all open issues between the two countries. One of the focuses will be four villages in Istria that the Slovene Geodetic Administration had decided to include them into the Slovene municipality of Secovlje, aide to the Croatian Foreign Minister, Vladimir Drobnjak, told the Croatian Television on Friday night. During a Friday meeting with the Slovene side, Drobnjak said the "Slovene side approached with a very constructive tone which shows that Slovenia wants good and friendly relations with us". The Slovenes "stressed that Croatia has jurisdiction over these four villages, and the problem is basically the result of the fact that the units of land have been listed in both the Secovlje and Buje municipality cadastre books", Drobnjak said. Although Slovenia's official views are still expected, "we are encouraged with today's pacifist and constructive tone of the Slovene side who stressed that this should not grow into a problem which could jeopardise our friendly relations, " he said. Asked how the Geodetic Administration can meddle with issues of borders, Drobnjak said that, according to verbal explanations by the Slovenes, several residents of these villages had requested a certificate from the land listings from the Slovene municipality. These certificates had been given to them in line with the Slovene administrative regulations because these villages were also listed in the Slovene books. "It remains to be seen just how much this is the result of a serious political contemplation and tactics by the Slovene side, or the result of an administrative decision, that is, a red-tape automatism," Drobnjak said. He added that Croatia had requested of Slovenia to express its official stance "Which, we hope, the Slovene Foreign Ministry will hand us in written form next week". (hina) lml 151035 MET aug 98