The Slovenian - Croatian border is becoming an international border

Ljubljana, 10 October - The guests of the today's regular press conference in the Cankarjev Dom were Mr. Igor Bavčar, the Minister of Interior, and Mr. Franc Košir, the Director of the Slovenian Customs Office. Difficulties were reported at the Slovenian - Croatian border crossings that are mainly due to the lack of proper informations regarding the new regime and unsufficient readiness of the Slovenian enterprises to comply with the international status of the border. Both speakers at the press conference thus repeatedly stressed that Slovenia is ready to assert its sovereignty on all of its territory including an equal regime on all of its border crossings. All the accompanying border services are operational on the Slovenian side of the border crossings. The export of the Slovenian merchandise into other Yugoslav republics is proceeding through the proper export customs services. The merchandise produced in other republics en route to Slovenian markets will be subject to 1% customs dues, the merchandise that is not produced in these republics will be subject to total customs dues. The same applies to passenger traffic with the additional proviso that the merchandise is subject also to turnover dues. Mr. Košir also made known the governmental decision that the citizens of Slovenia are free to take at most 1000 DEM on their trips abroad or any other hard currency equivalent including the Slovenian tolars. Regarding this sum of hard currency no bank attestation is necessary at present. The inflow of hard currency into Slovenia is not limited, the citizens of other republics are allowed to bring a sum of 1200 YUD with them. The Minister of Interior, Mr. Igor Bavčar, disclosed that Slovenian citizens are able to travel to Austria, Germany, Italy and the Baltic states with the new Slovenian passport. The exchange of the old passports for the new ones will begin on October 21, lasting two years, while the validity of the new passports will be 10 years. The price of the new Slovenian passport will be somewhat less than 1200 tolars. After a period of two years it will no longer be possible to obtain a Yugoslav passport in Slovenia. Mr. Bavčar also told the reporters that Slovenia has already been assigned an international code SLO that will be inscribed into the new passports. All the other official documents, including the registration plates, will be subject to change after January 1. He also made known the proposition that two new registration regions should be established, including Slovenj Gradec and Ptuj area. The government has not yet reached a decision regarding this proposition. The other proposition is that Slovenia should have as many registration regions as it has police precincts. The registration plates will be in future associated with the owner and not with the vehicle. Mr. Jelko Kacin stated that the Slovenian air space has been partially opened today and will stay open for sport aircraft, police helicopters and EEC monitors helicopters. The air traffic is being regulated by the Slovenian Information Center. As to when will the Slovenian ships navigate under Slovenian flags the answer was that it depends on the security situation in the Adriatic that is at present under control of the Yugoslav army. Its regard for Slovenia is in general well known.