The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Croatia handed a protest note to the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Zagreb, completely rejecting the Slovenian claims. The note is a response to the Press Release issued ea

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Croatia reiterates in its protest note that the bridge at Sveti Martin on Mura has been constructed between the two banks of the Mura river which are both undisputedly on the state territory of the Republic of Croatia. The construction works on the bridge have been carried out consistent with all the previously made arrangements with the authorities of the Republic of Slovenia as part of the realisation of the Cross-Border and Cooperation Agreement.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Croatia absolutely rejects the claims that the construction of the bridge and the road to the joint border crossing between Sveti Martin on Mura and Hotiza is violating provisions of any bilateral agreement between the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Slovenia.

What is more, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia issued a Decree on March 3, 2005, confirming that the joint border crossing between Sveti Martin on Mura and Hotiza was built by the Republic of Croatia on Croatian state territory and that it shall be used by the authorities of both countries starting from March 7, 2005.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Croatia finds such attempts at political instrumentalization of the relations in the border area unacceptable.