Prime Minister Janez Janša today invited all presidents of parliamentary parties and the two deputies of national minorities to a meeting to discuss today’s events at Hotiza and relations with the Republic of Croatia. In the Prime Minister’s words after the meeting, it had been a useful exchange of opinions. As for the events at Hotiza, the Prime Minister said that Slovenia had to respond in order to honour the agreement concluded by both Prime Ministers at the beginning of September.
PHOTO: Office of the PM
Prime Minister Janez Janša said that the situation should neither be dramatised nor underestimated. He stated that the arrests of Slovene journalists by the Croatian police were incomprehensible and disputable since journalists were not engaged in any act of hostility but were merely doing their job.
According to the Prime Minister, there were a number of incidents as early as August. Then a great deal of efforts – also personal commitments by both Prime Ministers – went into an agreement that was reached regarding the mutual reconstruction of the flood-protection embankment on the Mura River and confirmed by both Governments. “Regrettably, unilateral activities have been undertaken, directly contradicting the wording of the agreement. It is indeed stated in the joint statement that all the works in the area in which the boundary has not yet been definitely determined by a treaty will only be implemented jointly and by mutual agreement," said the Prime Minister.
“The Croatian side then continued to carry out the reconstruction of the embankment despite the fact that the technical agreement on the joint reconstruction of the embankment had not yet been reached. The most disputable, however, is the continuation of the construction of the road to the Slovenian settlement of Mirišče, which has been done without being agreed with the Slovenian side although this was explicitly stipulated in the above joint statement. The Croatian side built the road across the lands chiefly owned by Slovenes, yet without their permission although the agreement is absolutely clear on this point, stipulating that in all jointly undertaken activities related to the use of land the property rights and the rights of land owners will be respected,” stressed the Prime Minister.
In connection with tonight's meeting the Prime Minister said that it was necessary to respond to a number of calls that have been made publicly by representatives of certain parliamentary parties in recent weeks. “I thought it would be better to sit down at a table and talk directly, without cameras. To a large extent the meeting has provided the results that I expected. I think that we presidents and parliamentary parties share – with one exception, perhaps – very similar opinions regarding the current developments between Slovenia and Croatia,” said the Prime Minister and also welcomed the same unity regarding longer-term moves.
According to the Prime Minister, the Republic of Slovenia has a strategic interest in Croatia’s continued European aspirations and adoption of European standards. “If this really happens, I believe that the incidents such as arrests of journalists will no longer occur. In particular, if they have all the necessary press credentials. Certainly, Slovenia will insist that Croatia should meet the necessary conditions, just like every other candidate country. Once these conditions have been met, I think many a dilemma verging on un-European conduct will disappear of its own accord," said the Prime Minister and went on to add that Slovenians were known to keep their word.
“I also informed the presidents of the parliamentary parties of several other issues related to managing relations with the neighbouring country, to the seeking of answers to unresolved issues, and to the timetable ahead of us. We agreed to meet again soon and, in the meanwhile, to try to clarify some dilemmas which are either still open or have occurred anew,” said the Prime Minister.
