The Foreign Ministry on Monday published a White Paper on the disputed parts of the border between Slovenia and Croatia, with Slovenian FM Dimitrij Rupel labelling the document a means of facilitating dialogue between the two sides.
According to Rupel, the White Paper is a "sort of a manual" meant to "clarify issues". He added that the document is not meant to "accuse or attack Croatia, but is a part of the dialogue".
"Neither Croatians nor us are responsible for having to draw our mutual borders," he stressed, adding that he wants more understanding in the public during the follow-up steps to resolve the issue.
The minister hopes that the publication of the book would not strain relations between Slovenia and Croatia. He also reiterated his view that talks are more suitable than arbitration, yet added that no talks are currently going on.
The White Paper is based on facts, it includes documents such as court decisions, police records, inheritance deeds and research papers. It is not meant as something to argue about, said Rupel, and pointed out that Slovenia has not yet pulled all of the trumps out of its sleeve.
The document is based on Slovenia's stance that the status as it was on the day both countries declared independence (25 June 1991) should be respected.
It does not deal with the entire border but mainly with access to the high seas, the Bay of Piran, several settlements south of the river Dragonja (SW), the region alongside the river Mura (NE), an area of woods around Sneznik (SW) and an area in Bela krajina (SE).
It contains documents supporting Slovenia's arguments that the country had jurisdiction over these areas before declaring independence and continued to have it afterwards.
According to Rupel, after WWII, Croatia managed to incorporate its nationals into its borders, while Slovenia did not do so, meaning that Croatia in a way "solved its problems on Slovenia's account".
He also pointed out that both countries had bound themselves in their constitutional documents to respect the status on the day of declaring independence, yet Croatia tried to prejudice the course of the border through several one-sided activities after 25 June 1991.
Rupel stressed that Croatia unilaterally changed the name of the historical and internationally recognised Bay of Piran into "Savudrijska vala" and drew a border line in the middle of the Bay of Piran on its maps.
Croatia also unilaterally and illegally set up its Plovanija border crossing, which Rupel said stands on Slovenian territory. He pointed out that the White Paper also mentions a letter by former Croatian PM Nikica Valentic, who said the Plovanija facility as temporary.
More articles from this issue:
Archive
|