Government's Decisions About Relations With Croatia

Ljubljana, 23 September

After incident on the left bank of the Dragonja River last Wednesday the Slovene government passed several decisions regarding relations with the Republic of Croatia.

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia most strongly protests the brutal and non-European actions of Croatia against Slovene citizens on Slovene territory with the goal of effecting the demarcation of the border unilaterally and without consent, and the attempt to prejudice the determination of the Slovenian-Croatian border. The Government of the Republic of Slovenia appeals to Croatia to pursue a European manner of action, dialogue and the implementation of solutions arrived at by consent also with respect to the border between the two countries.

The incident in question and other frequent incidents, including the activities of Croatian vessels in the Gulf of Piran, which show no consideration of the international legal obligation to avoid situations where such incidents could occur, result in negative and difficult to resolve consequences for the relations between the two countries and do not contribute to the rapid advancement of Croatia into membership in the EU. Slovenia has already informed the European Commission and the Council of the European Union about this most recent incident of the deprivation of freedom and will continue to take appropriate measures with the competent European bodies.

The actions of the Croatian police, which are not in the spirit of good-neighbourly, European relations and are contrary to the obligation to avoid such incidents pursuant to international law, make it impossible at present for the Government of the Republic of Slovenia to continue to support Croatia as a candidate for accession to the EU. After ratification by the competent state organ of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia will act accordingly within the framework of the EU.

The Government charges the competent bodies of the Republic of Slovenia, pursuant to their powers, to do everything necessary to prosecute the perpetrators of this deprivation of freedom before Slovenian judicial bodies.

The Government once again emphasises that violent unilateral actions are not an approach which will lead to the solution of unresolved border disputes. It also once again appeals to the neighbouring country, in accordance with the European spirit of co-operative dialogue and the avoidance of unnecessary violent measures which are not characteristic of the relations of two nations and countries with a European future, to enter into the peaceful implementation of consensual solutions with respect to the border between the two countries.

The Government has informed the Foreign Policy Committee of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia about these decisions.

Government's Decisions About Relations With Croatia

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