"I can confirm that (Italy requested payment for those services). Talks are under way with Italy over the technical side of the agreement," Defence Minister Karl Erjavec was quoted as saying by private POP TV on its website.

Slovenia -- which has a population of two-million people and borders Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia -- was invited to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in March last year.

Since Slovenia does not have fighter aircraft, Italy offered to safeguard Slovenia's air space with its military fighters and protection has been granted free of charge over the last eleven months as part of NATO's integrated air control system (NATINEADS).

POP TV reported that Italian fighters flew through Slovenia's air space only once in that period but added that if protection was charged by Rome, "it would cost Slovenia several million euros per year."

"The issue is still open," Minister Erjavec was quoted as saying and he refused comment further until negotiations were concluded.

Slovenia declared independence from former Socialist Yugoslavia in 1991 and the tiny Alpine state joined the European Union last year.

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