INTERIOR MINISTRY COMMENTS ON ARREST OF TWO SLOVENE AGENTS

( Editorial: --> 5003 ) ZAGREB, Jan 16 (Hina) - The Croatian Ministry of Interior Affairs on Friday issued a statement on the occasion of the arrest of two Slovene citizens, members of the Slovenian intelligence service, on which Slovene media had been reporting the last two days. According to the statement, the two Slovenes were arrested in Dubrava Krizovljanska, 60 metres from the border, on Croatian territory, at 12.10 hours on 6 January 1998. They were caught in a Volkswagen vehicle owned by the Slovenian Ministry of Defence. In the vehicle was found equipment for electronic reconnaissance and counter-electronic activity. It has been determined the two persons were members of the intelligence security service of the Slovene Ministry of Defence. Officials of the Croatian Defence Ministry charged the two Slovenes with illegal crossing of the Croatian border. They were found guilty and fined at the magistrates' court in Varazdin on 7 January. The police took away the vehicle and equipment for further investigation and a possible criminal procedure. After paying the fines, the two intelligence officers left Croatia on 7 January accompanied by a representative of the Slovene Embassy in Croatia. Slovene diplomatic representatives had no complaints about the behaviour of Croatian police in the matter, the statement concluded. (hina) ha jn 161707 MET jan 98