The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, who is attending the European Council meeting in Brussels, has commented on the recent statements made by some European politicians on ways to resolve the border issue between Slovenia and Croatia. He said that the proposed solutions were not new and are well known to Slovenia, that has been preparing for them for some time.

(Photo: Kristina Kosec/BOBO)

Mr Janša explained that Slovenia does not oppose arbitration in principle, as this way of resolving outstanding issues between the countries is far better than a long-running dispute. "However, to call in a third party to help resolve conflicts does not reflect well on either of the two countries involved," said the Slovenian PM, adding that Slovenia had been looking for additional ways to solve pending issues.

"It also needs to be said that we have not received a concrete outline of the arbitration from Croatia, apart from the proposal that, in principle, it be carried out," said Mr Janša, adding that Slovenia cannot accept arbitration only for the maritime border. "If the arbitration procedure is launched, this would definitely have to include the whole of the Slovenian-Croatian border."

 

The Slovenian PM also undrfelined the issue of the credibility of the Croatian side, which has signed a similar border agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also failed to ratify it. In his opinion, the Slovenian public as well as the National Assembly will seek an explanation as to why the agreement which both countries agreed upon was suddenly deemed inappropriate and was consequently not ratified.

 

Mr Janša explained that Slovenia does not link the resolution of bilateral issues to Croatia's joining the EU, and that it has always supported its neighbour’s efforts to join Europe. Slovenia believes that a number of outstanding issues – none of them critical – can be solved more efficiently within the same political framework. Therefore, according to the Slovenian PM, raising the issue of arbitration and Slovenian-Croatian relations within the context of Croatia's accession to the EU is out of place.

Prime Minister Janša also said that there is still a possibility of a joint government session. "However, since this was suggested, there has been no major progress in terms of closing the negotiations regarding the two or three agreements that are supposed to be signed at the next meeting. When these conditions are met, the meeting can take place," he said, adding that Croatia has not expressed a keen interest in bringing the negotiations to a close.