Mr. Ivan Šimonović received Mr. Peter Bekeš, the Slovenian Ambassador...

Today, Mr. Ivan Šimonović, the Croatian Deputy Foreign Minister, received Mr. Peter Bekeš, the Slovenian Ambassador. Mr. Šimonović informed Mr. Bekeš that regardless of serious disagreement with part of the talks, the Republic of Croatia would not reply in written to the last Slovenian note, thus showing in a practical way its commitment to cease the war of notes, and that solutions for disputable issues were to be sought in direct talks.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes the readiness of Slovenia to finally accept the date for bilateral meeting on 16 September 2003. At the same time, considering the importance of the topic to be considered, Ljubljana is invited not to lower the level of interlocutors, and considers that the delegation, in addition to legal experts, should include experts for fishery and environment protection. This is the only way to have successful consultation on the Common Fisheries Policy, and to fully present one's own ideas, positions and national measures, which Slovenia emphasised to date, on several occasions, as its interest.

Mr Šimonović warned that claims from the Slovenian note and statements of high Slovenian officials in the media, that the Republic of Croatia needs the agreement of Slovenia for possible proclamation of the economic zone, and that the assumption for it is the ratification of the initialled agreement between the two states, are not legally founded. Due to its geographical position, the Republic of Slovenia has not exit to the open sea, and the agreement that was initialled has never been signed, nor ratified, and could not have any legal effects.

On the other side, Slovenia, as a state with unfavourable geographic position has legitimate interest in using surplus of fish in the territory of the Croatian exclusive economic zone, if it is proclaimed, just as its interest in the participation in the environment protection at the Adriatic Sea is legitimate. Croatia is prepared to discuss these issue with Slovenia in a good neighbourly spirit.

At the end of the meeting, Mr. Šimonović expressed his hope that the forthcoming bilateral meeting will enable successful discussion and contribute to better mutual understanding and cooperation. Ambassador Bekeš announced that he would urgently inform his Government of Croatia's position and that he hopes that bilateral talks will help resolve disputable issues.

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