LJUBLJANA, Sept 11 (Hina) - Slovene Prime Minister Janez Drnovsek on Wednesday expressed regret that the Croatian side was backing out of a draft border agreement that was initialled last year but not signed or ratified and said that
his meeting with Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan on Tuesday in Zagreb was intended only to resolve the fishing problem in Piran Bay.
LJUBLJANA, Sept 11 (Hina) - Slovene Prime Minister Janez Drnovsek
on Wednesday expressed regret that the Croatian side was backing
out of a draft border agreement that was initialled last year but
not signed or ratified and said that his meeting with Croatian Prime
Minister Ivica Racan on Tuesday in Zagreb was intended only to
resolve the fishing problem in Piran Bay. #L#
The meeting, held in very complicated circumstances, aimed at
calming the situation and preventing any further incidents that
Slovenia is not at fault for, Drnovsek said. "I expect that the
agreement will be realised and all causes for incidents removed,"
he said, and added that the said agreement on a temporary regime for
fishing in the border region exhausted all political and diplomatic
methods.
According to Slovenia's premier, the said fishing agreement would
offer more opportunities for both sides which should relieve the
incidental circumstances. If any incidents should occur, this
would prove that their cause are political and not economic
interests, he said.
Drnovsek reiterated the position of his government with regard to
Ljubljana bank in Zagreb and the Krsko nuclear power plant and
denied any existing combinations regarding the relief of Foreign
Minister Dimitrij Rupel from Drnovsek's government. "I have not
even considered this possibility," Drnovsek said.
(hina) sp it