Photo: Uroš Hočevar

 

After inspecting the embankment, Prime Minister Janša said that Slovenia insisted on the state of affairs in force on 25 June 1991; however, a final agreement between the two countries had not been reached and in the meantime solutions which would facilitate a normal life for people living along the border were needed. "With this meeting we have proved that both countries are able to solve issues in the interests of the local communities on both sides of the border even when no final agreements have been signed. It is a fact that some parts of the state border which have not been defined will need to be fixed somehow," said the PM.

 

He added that problems had also emerged in this transitional period and that one of these was the danger of flooding, which was why an agreement on jointly addressing the problems along the Mura had been reached, without prejudging the border or any other dispute. According to the PM, this was a relatively complex issue with different aspects.

 

Mr Janša concluded that this case involved urgent work which was in the interests of both countries, and especially of local inhabitants threatened by flooding. To a question from a journalist about the presence of Slovenian special police, the PM responded that they were withdrawing from the area, as there were no reasons for them to stay.

On this occasion the Prime Ministers also issued a joint statement.