Slovenian PM Janez Jansa talked to his Croatian counterpart Ivo Sanader following media reports about activities by a Croatian construction company in a disputed stretch of land near the Hotiza border crossing. "I believe this will be resolved so that there are no actions which would deteriorate the situation," Jansa told the press on Monday.
Jansa said that he had been informed about the matter by Interior Minister Dragutin Mate and Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel. The latter said on the margins of the Caspian Outlook 2008 conference that there was "nothing bad" going on at Hotiza according to his information.
The government has always protected Slovenian citizens, which it must do. In case there was a problem or a danger for our citizens, the government would act accordingly, Rupel explained.
"If the situation got more complicated, we would act accordingly in a more complex manner; if it calms down and becomes simpler, our actions will be simpler," he said.
According to media reports, a Croatian construction company has started building a road on the left side of the river Mura, whereby the road goes through plots owned by Slovenians.
Commercial broadcaster POP TV reported that the Slovenian owners had not been notified about the construction, which is why they informed the interior and foreign ministries about the activity.
POP TV reports that in response Slovenia beefed up police presence on this part of the border with Croatian.
Asked to confirm this report, Minister Rupel said he had no information about police presence being beefed up there.
The foreign minister also talked on the margins of the Bled conference with Croatian Foreign Ministry State Secretary Hido Biscevic. Asked whether they found any solutions, Rupel said "I hope".
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