ZAGREB (AFP) -- Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader wants European Union officials to take part in any talks with Slovenia on Slovenia's blockage of Croatia's EU accession talks, a top official said on Saturday.

Slovenian Prime Minister Borut Pahor had offered to hold talks with Sanader before Slovenia on Friday vetoed further Croatia-EU talks over a border dispute between the former Yugoslav states.
""Prime Minister Sanader has received the invitation and he will of course meet with the Slovenian prime minister, in accordance with our fundamental principle of good neighbor relations,"" Jadranka Kosor, a deputy prime minister, told reporters.
But she added that the talks would take place ""only if European Commission or European Union officials are present at this meeting.""
Slovenia's veto means the EU and Croatia could only open talks in Brussels on Friday on one of 35 policy subjects that must be completed prior to EU membership.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said Croatia could still complete membership talks next year despite the Slovenia protest.
The two countries have been unable to agree on a small area of land and sea territory since they both proclaimed independence in 1991.