Biscevic and Bekes positively assessed the course of preparations and efforts to harmonise positions on a joint statement on the avoidance of incidents, as well as an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation and an agreement on a meeting of expert commissions which are to determine a location for a bridge on the River Mura, to be built by the two countries in line with an agreement Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and Slovene Prime Minister Janez Jansa reached in Portoroz recently.
With regard to a recent dispute involving a ferry on the River Mura, the Slovene side was asked to contact and inform the owner of the ferry to pick up the vessel to avoid the unnecessary politicising of the case.
The Croatian Sea, Tourism, Transport and Development Ministry on May 2 issued a decision banning the "Hotiza" ferry from Slovenia, from navigation on the Mura, because it was in poor repair. A previous investigation had revealed that the ferry lacked a valid navigation permit, so the ferry was removed and docked at Sveti Martin na Muri, in Croatia.
Biscevic today also met Serbia and Montenegro Ambassador Milan Simurdic as part of continuing talks on the development of good neighbourly relations and overall cooperation.
The two officials positively assessed recent bilateral consultations between the two countries' foreign ministry officials and welcomed the intensified efforts of the commissions for missing and detained persons and the division of diplomatic assets of the former federation among the successor states. They confirmed that police and judicial officials would soon meet to discuss readmission and cooperation during the tourist season.
In relation to recent incidents in eastern Slavonia and the Zadar hinterland, Biscevic said that the police were intensively investigating the incidents. Simurdic agreed with Biscevic that only timely and thorough investigation results could be relevant for the interpretation of the incidents, the statement said.