The Treaty of Osimo and decisions stemming from that agreement are an entirely closed chapter for us, Kosor said, adding that it had been agreed that Foreign Affairs and European Integration Minister Gordan Jandrokovic should ask the Papal Nuncio in Croatia to meet with him for talks at the ministry.

Our ambassador in the Vatican, who is on holiday, will return to the Vatican and request talks at an appropriate level, Kosor said. She added that she would also send a letter today to the Holy See's State Secretary, Tarcisio Bertone, containing "legal facts which bear proof of this."

Kosor said that Culture Minister Jasen Mesic, Justice Minister Drazen Bosnjakovic and Foreign Minister Jandrokovic, who also attended her meeting with Bishop Milovan, could help resolve the current "unpleasant situation".

We have agreed that we will stay in touch, Kosor said, adding that they requested the Pula-Porec diocese to give them all documents in its possession that could help solve the current situation.

Expressing support to Bishop Milovan, Kosor said she believed a solution would be found.

Bishop Milovan said that the signed agreement the diocese was expected to implement (on the restitution of the property in the Dajla parish) also had international implications, which was why the diocese had requested the government's opinion and assistance.

Thanking Kosor for the support, Milovan said he was confident a right solution would be found that would also respect the treaty signed by the former Yugoslav federation and Italy, the Treaty of Osimo, which he said could otherwise be brought into question.

He also expressed confidence there would be no major disputes at the church level and that unquestionable unity with the Holy Father would be preserved.

The spokesman for the Croatian Bishops' Conference (HBK), Zvonimir Ancic, today would not comment on the case, saying that the press would be informed on time should the HBK decide to comment on it.