On the margins of his participation today at the event “Trade Unions without Borders”, which he attended on the invitation of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Croatia and the Federation of Free Trade Unions of Slovenia, together with Ivo Sanader, Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Janez Janša, Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, commented further on some current issues in the relations between Slovenia and Croatia.

 

(Photo: Kristina Kosec/Bobo)

 

As regards resolution of the issue of the state border, he said it is now up to the intergovernmental commission of international law experts to try and coordinate the best possible approach. “It would be good if the experts were granted some time for work as well as peace. The atmosphere they work in is important, too,” he said. He stressed that this is the second serious attempt in the history of both countries, expressing his expectations that it would be successful: “There are no hundred-percent guarantees, but both sides are making serious efforts to obtain results.”

 

(Photo: Kristina Kosec/Bobo)

 

As regards the recent events in the area by the Dragonja River, where the course of the state border has not yet been defined, and some new activities that have been announced, Prime Minister Janša pointed out that all of Europe is experiencing a historical moment of positive progress marked by the expansion of all freedoms within the aforementioned area. “Setting up any obstacles – flower pots or anything else – marks a step in the opposite direction. Therefore I do not support this. I believe that all steps making the existing border between Slovenia and Croatia easier to cross, more European, are valid and deserve support,” said Prime Minister Janša, expressing his expectations that the problem of flower pots at the so-called European drive of Joško Joras would be resolved. In the Prime Minister’s opinion, however, this process requires the use of existing institutional means: “Any steps from any side in the direction of aggravation are not productive.”

 

Prime Minister Janša seized the opportunity to add that the two countries would resolve the issue of minors travelling to Croatia unaccompanied by legal representatives by making the procedures stipulated by the new Croatian Aliens Act less costly for Slovenian parents than first expected, as well as simpler.