STATEMENTS OF PREMIERS VALENTIC AND DRNOVSEK

OTOCAC NA KRKI, May 14 (Hina) - After their meeting in the town of Otocac na Krki Croatian and Slovene Premiers, Nikica Valentic and Janez Drnovsek, told reporters that their talks had revolved about the bilateral relations and open issues between Slovenia and Croatia. Croatian Premier Valentic said that many thorny issues had been solved since the last official visit of Slovene Premier to Croatia. In the meantime the bilateral agreements were signed and ratified by the Croatian Parliament. We have openly discussed other problems such as property- rights relations and the provision according to which firms from the other republics (of former Yugoslavia) cannot still undergo the process of privatization in Croatia. We have also considered the issue of the Ljubljana bank and agreed that for next 30 days ministers of finance are to continue talks on this issue. We have also agreed that the Croatian government will officially visit the Slovene capital of LJubljana in the end of June, said Croatian Premier Valentic. He stressed that they had discussed the issue of refugees from Bosnia-Herzegovina, now accommodated in the resort-centres in the Slovene property in Pineta at Cthe Croatian coast. Being of poor psycho-physical health the refugees refused to leave the resort-centres in Pineta and the Croatian government did not want to move them from the current accommodation by force, although it provided new facilities with the same conditions for those refugees, according to Prime Minister Valentic. He also said that the Croatian side was ready to buy those resort-centres from the Slovene owners at the market price, and would offer proposals for purchase to the Slovene owners next week. Today's talks between Croatian and Slovene Premiers also concentrated on the issue of border crossing of the two neighbouring countries. Premier Valentic said that the two sides had accorded their views on this subject matter. He pointed out that for Croatia a great problem was Plovania, the main road border crossing from the west via Slovenia to Croatia. "The forthcoming tourist season is very important for Croatia, and that border crossing, still untidy construction site, is a big problem. Next week we shall forward a letter to the Slovene government with a transitory solution because of this tourist season, and the Croatian government guarantees that it will not prejudge no final solution for borders," said Valentic. "We have also talked about the Bay of Piran and supported the work of the commissions. The Slovene government is persistent in its former demand. It is important that no incident has been recorded so far, and that the cooperation of the polices of the two countries is good," stressed Croatian Prime Minister. He emphasized that both Croatia and Slovenia were interested in the speedy succession of the former Yugoslavia. Speaking of relations between Croatia, Slovenia and Italy Premier Valentic said that at today's talks with his Slovene counterpart they confirmed that no country could accept discussion let alone revision of the Ossimo Treaties since it might mean some changes of the borders with negative consequences. Slovene Premier Janez Drnovsek said that in connection of the problem of the Ljubljana Bank in Zagreb Slovenia would be interested in resolving the issue within the succession of the former Yugoslavia whereas the Croatian government had other suggestions. Two Premiers denied allegations on a confederation and certain concessions which Croatia would make to Slovenia concerning the territory. 142159 MET may 94