Pusić: Changing border arbitration deal for public hearing would delay solution

(Hina) - Croatia would not mind if the definition of the border with Slovenia before the Arbitration Court was public but that would require changing the arbitration agreement, which would delay the proceedings

(Hina) - Croatia would not mind if the definition of the border with Slovenia before the Arbitration Court was public but that would require changing the arbitration agreement, which would delay the proceedings, Croatian Foreign Minister Vesna Pusić said on Sunday in a comment on Slovenia's insisting that the verbal part of the proceedings be public.

The arbitration agreement is an international treaty and it says the proceedings are closed to the public, Pusić told reporters.

"I can't quite understand it. De facto, the only effect would be stalling, delaying a solution to the problem," she said regarding Slovenia's request.

Any change would entail a procedure equal to the adoption procedure. The agreement was ratified by the parliaments of Croatia and Slovenia, and in Slovenia it also passed in a referendum, she added.

"As far as Croatia is concerned, it can be either way, but we will abide by regulations, laws and international treaties. The sooner the whole situation is solved, the better," Pusić said, adding: "I don't understand why it would be in anyone's interest to ruin the relations between Croatia and Slovenia. We are two neighbouring countries interested in people living normally in peace and politics should not make them quarrel."

Asked about Slovenian Foreign Minister Karl Erjavec's statement that Slovenia's initiative for Bosnia and Herzegovina's (BiH) swifter progress towards the European Union was better than Croatia's proposal, Pusić said the important thing was that BiH was not forgotten "in the changed geopolitical situation, given the situation in Ukraine."

She said "all initiatives are welcome" and reiterated that Croatia's initiative was not "for lowering the criteria because that would be against the interests of Croatia, whose interest is a stable Bosnia and Herzegovina."

"No lowering of the criteria, but an active role by European institutions and the member states in cooperation with BiH so that it can reach the criteria which would then be part of the negotiating process," she said.

"It's important that all, notably the biggest member states, take this over as their project too which they too support, and our goal is not to compete but involve as many states as possible and eventually reach a consensus in European institutions on the need for a proactive approach to BiH (so that) this country can move on. I think such stability is in the interest of both Southeast Europe and the whole of Europe."

Commenting on media speculation that she could run for UN secretary-general, Pusić said her job was now in her Croatian People's Party (HNS) "in terms of social activity" and in the government and the Foreign Ministry "in terms of the commitments undertaken in the election."

"It is believed that Eastern Europe could give the UN secretary-general in the next term, but even this isn't certain," she said, adding that the media were speculating on this because there were not many candidates from this region.

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