JOINT STATEMENT BY CROATIAN AND SLOVENE FOREIGN MINISTERS

BEZANEC, July 1 (Hina) - A meeting between Croatian and Slovene foreign ministers, Mate Granic and Lojze Peterle, was held today at the Bezanec Castle in Zagorje, north-western Croatia, because of preparations for the forthcoming meeting of Prime Ministers of the two countries scheduled for 8 July in Ljubljana, said a joint statement by the two ministers issued after the meeting. During cordial and open talks, the two ministers discussed the agenda of the forthcoming meeting and open questions between the two countries. They also talked about the situation in the region, especially about the relations of the two countries with Italy. The ministers agreed that their assistants and experts should meet in order to discuss issues on the Italian ethnic minority in both countries and to make an agreement on financial liabilities of each country towards Italy under the so-called Rome agreement from 1983. Traffic ministers should hold a meeting in order to co- ordinate views on international road links, and ministers of economy are also expected to meet, said the joint statement. 011801 MET jul 94