Germany urges dialogue to solve Slovenia-Croatia row

Germany will support all efforts to resolve the border dispute between Slovenia and Croatia, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Slovenian Prime Minister Marjan Sarec following their meeting in Berlin, Merkel expressed hope that EU members Slovenia and Croatia would reach a settlement on their long-simmering border dispute.

"Germany will support all efforts to resolve the border dispute between Slovenia and Croatia," Merkel said, but stopped short of offering a mediation by Germany.

"Of course, first of all, it is up to to the parties to address this. However, in view of so many problems around the world, it would be desirable to have this problem resolved," she said.

Two former Yugoslav states -- Slovenia and Croatia -- are at odds over fishing waters in the northern Adriatic Sea.