CRO, SLOVENIA ACHIEVE PROGRESS IN RESOLVING OPEN ISSUES

ZAGREB, Oct 25 (Hina) - Croatia and Slovenia have achieved progress in resolving some open issues, and will continue discussions on resolving other problems, Croatian and Slovene foreign ministers Mate Granic and Davorin Kracun said on Friday. Kracun is on a one- day official visit to Croatia. #L# After official talks between delegations, an agreement was signed on cooperation in water management which would sidestep any disagreements future in the field. Granic described relations between Croatia and Slovenia as relations "between two friendly countries which support each other in all important issues". Kracun expressed satisfaction with the talks with his Croatian counterpart because of "the progress which has been achieved in open issues" between the two countries. Progress has been reached in resolving problems concerning ownership of the Krsko nuclear power plant, which is on Slovenian territory, but was constructed with resources from both countries. The two ministers said that an agreement on property-rights issues between Croatia and Slovenia has been accorded. The two countries would intensify negotiations on resolving the problem of the Ljubljana Bank's debt to Croatian savers, Granic said, stressing that this was the key to the overall solution of all economic issues for the Croatian side. Speaking of the issue of borders, Granic stressed that at the moment, "it is most important that interstate commissions continued with their work". The talks also focused on Croatia's and Slovenia's relations with Euro-Atlantic organizations, the central European initiative and the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA). Kracun stressed that Slovenia was ready to establish a free trade zone with Croatia as a preparation for Croatia's accession into CEFTA. Granic thanked Slovenia for its support to Croatia's admission into the Council of Europe. (hina) lm jn 251636 MET oct 96