Today, before the beginning of the international conference European Union 2020: Enlarging and Integrating, organised by Bled Strategic Forum, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, met the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Ivo Sanader.

(Photo: Srdjan Živulovič/Bobo)

In the press relase issued after the meeting Mr Janša states that there the Prime Ministers agreed in principle to resolve the outstanding border issue before the International Court of Justice in the Hague. "After our talks I can say that we have significantly reconciled differences in opinion, but we are not at the end of the road yet," said the PM.

 

The countries will seek to resolve other outstanding issues at bilateral level. In the next few days and weeks competent ministers will meet in order to take further steps in resolving the issues of the former branch of Ljubljanska banka in Zagreb and Krško Nuclear Power Plant.

 

Accroding to the PM, there is agreement in principle that with regard to the border dispute, both land and maritime borders can be ruled upon, i.e. all disputed parts of the border. A detailed list of disputed areas to be settled in court will be drawn up.

 

(Photo: Daša Žumer/Bobo)

 

"With regard to border arbitration, the countries agree in principle that we take as a basis the situation on 25 June 1991 – as agreed in the Brioni Declaration," said Mr Janša. Taking this into consideration, a mixed group of legal experts is expected to draw up a draft agreement on submitting the border dispute to the International Court of Justice in the Hague, and thus establish a concrete framework for resolving the dispute. The Slovenian PM said that the group is expected to reach conclusions by the end of this year, adding that the framework – before it is submitted to the Court – would be discussed in the Parliaments of both countries.

 

"Now that we aim to resolve these issues, we both agree that a solid political consensus must be reached in both countries with regard to specific the procedures for resolving the border dispute. On several occasions this was not the case in the past, which saw certain agreements being initialled, but not ratified," said Mr Janša, adding: "This is a guarantee that the mode of resolving the dispute we have opted for will be a success. Without this consensus, the situation becomes vulnerable to various political events, and the work that has been done is wasted."

 

Mr Janša took the opportunity to stress that this was not a package approach, as resolving one issue is not connected to any concessions made by either side regarding other unresolved issues.

 

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia also said that before the governments make any official decisions, they would inform the leaders of parliamentary parties in their respective countries about the results of discussions and details, as political consensus in both countries was a guarantee for a permanent solution.