---

Slovenia to Change Property Laws; Foreigners Able to Own Real Estate LJUBLJANA, June 24 (Reuters) - Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Drnovsek said on Monday he had no doubt parliament would ratify an association agreement with the European Union and change property ownership laws as required by the bloc. Slovenia signed the agreement with the EU on June 10 after several years of tough negotiations. The major hurdle to the deal was the former Yugoslav republic's restrictive property ownership laws. On EU prodding, Slovenia agreed to permit foreigners to own local real estate within four years of enforcing the accord. "I am sure that parliament will ratify the agreement, most probably next year," Drnovsek told reporters. "I also believe parliament will complete the procedure to enable foreign real estate ownership." He said Slovenia would hold a referendum on property ownership if necessary, saying such a referendum would be linked to the question of whether Slovenians supported the country's full membership in the EU. "I have no doubt that Slovenians will decide in favour of the European Union," Drnovsek said. The government said earlier that it expected Slovenia to become a full EU member by 2001. Drnovsek also hailed Italy's recent decision to back Slovenia's association agreement. Rome blocked the deal for several years because Slovenia refused to hand back real estate confiscated from ethnic Italians who fled the region after Italy's defeat in World War Two. "My recent talks with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi showed that we have important common interests, mainly on economic cooperation between the two countries," he said. "I expect...previous agreements between Italy and the former Yugoslavia will prevail, by which Slovenia will continue to pay agreed financial compensation instead of returning buildings themselves," he added. Italy is one of Slovenia's biggest economic partners, accounting for about 16 percent of the foreign trade.

Berserkistan, June 25 · Slovenians Believe Leaving Yugoslavia Was Positive Change
Berserkistan, June 24 · Unemployment Dampens Slovenia’s Independence Day
Berserkistan, June 10 · Slovenia Set to Become European Union Member

SLOVENIA
Dr. Janez Drnovšek Prime Minister, Republic of Slovenia
Slovenia at a Glance
Ljubljana Visit Slovenia’s Capital
Milan Kuean President, Republic of Slovenia
Slovenia Weekly Government Public Relations & Media Office
SloWWWenia Guide to Virtual Slovenia

Berserkistan is a world news service of Michael Linder Productions, Inc.
©1995-1996, All Rights Reserved