Croatia accepts EC mediation proposal about border dispute

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Croatia will accept the European Commission (EC) initiative for resolution of the Croatian-Slovene border dispute.
The Croatian government announced on Monday it had accepted EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn's proposal that a group of experts led by former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari mediate the dispute.
Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader said the experts could also help both countries resolve other bilateral issues, as well, such as fishing.
Sanader added he expected Slovenia to stop blocking the opening of new chapters in Croatia's EU accession negotiations soon after the Ahtisaari group had started to work.
The prime minister reiterated EU accession negotiations had nothing to do with the border dispute.
Sanader refused to comment about claims Croatia would be unable to finish the negotiations by the end of 2009.