Croatian Foreign Minister Miomir Žužul went today, 9 April 2004, on a one-day official visit to Ljubljana, the Republic of Slovenia
Ministers Žužul and Rupel agreed that Croatia and Slovenia are a safety guarantee for the whole region and that Slovenia wants to help Croatia join the EU, as that is in its interest. It was stated that in Bruxelles Slovenia will advocate Croatia’s entering the EU. The talks established that the common border issue can be solved through arbitration, having reached a friendly agreement first, for which there are preconditions, because it was said that the issue of the protected ecological-fishery belt in the Adriatic can also be solved. Minister Žužul pointed out that the Croatian government cannot change the Croatian parliament’s decision about the ecological-fishery belt. It was also confirmed that the negotiation about the belt will include all three interested countries, Croatia, Italy and Slovenia, as well as the European Commission representatives. The talks also concerned the porosity of the common border after Slovenia’s joining the EU early May. The ministers announced the setting up of the property-rights commission that will deal with the open property-rights issues on both sides. The start of the procedure for reaching the Agreement on avoiding double taxation was also agreed upon, as well as the possible co-operation regarding the Konstanza-Omišalj-Kopar-Trieste oil pipeline. Minister Rupel personally handed the agreement for the new Croatian ambassador to Ljubljana to Minister Žužul, who announced at the press conference that that will be Mario Nobilo. Apart from agreeing about the progress of bilateral relations and mutual understanding, projects of mutual interest like the co-operation between and the co-ordinating the management of the three North Adriatic ports Rijeka-Kopar-Trieste were agreed upon in principle. Both sides expressed their satisfaction with the Croatian government’s proposal, communicated by Minister Žužul, about the joint session between the Croatian and Slovenian government in Croatia, most likely to be held sometime in July. Minister Žužul congratulated Minister Rupel and the Republic of Slovenia on its significant international achievements – joining NATO and the imminent entry into the EU, while Minister Rupel congratulated Minister Žužul and the Republic of Croatia on the successful meeting of criteria on its way to joining the same important international integrations and the reception of the Croatian delegation, headed by Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, in Washington on the occasion of the inauguration ceremony of the seven new NATO members. After the official meeting with Minister Rupel, Minister Žužul met with Slovenian Minister Janez Drnovšek, whom he congratulated on behalf of the Croatian President Stipe Mesić and Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, on the historical events for Slovenia – NATO and EU membership. Slovenian President Drnovšek said that he hopes Croatia will move even closer to the EU and promised to share the best of Slovenia’s experiences, because Croatia’s joining the EU is of interest to Slovenia, and for the purposes of solving open issues between the two countries. Minister Žužul informed the Slovenian President about the calendar of Croatia’s approaching the EU, and President Drnovšek said that he would be glad if Croatia and Slovenia reached the same goal. Minister Žužul also had a very pleasant and friendly meeting with Slovenian Prime Minister Anton Rop, which mentioned the open issues such as the Protected ecological-fishery belt and the Croatian account holders in Ljubljanska bank. Minister Žužul communicated to Prime Minister Rop Croatian Prime Minister Sanader’s invitation to pay an official visit to Croatia. Minister Žužul also met with the President of the Slovenian National Assembly Borut Pahor, with whom he visited the National Assembly in session, where the Croatian Minister and the Croatian delegation were greeted with an applause from the members. At the end of his official visit to Slovenia, Minister Žužul met with the Archbishop of Ljubljana, Franc Rode, whom he wished a happy Easter.
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