Ministarstvo vanjskih i europskih poslova

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Croatia absolutely refutes the claims from the address of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr. Janez Janša

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Croatia absolutely refutes the claims from the address of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr. Janez Janša, at the celebration of the anniversary of the integration of the Primorska province to the homeland, presented in Koper on Sunday, regarding the border with the Republic of Croatia and according to which the open border issues should be settled on the basis of equity and taking into account the „population and territorial losses of Slovenians following the delimitation between Italy and the former Yugoslavia after World War II“

With the election campaign in Slovenia in full swing, this is apparently a case of the politicization of the issue as a campaigning tool.

The mentioned claim though, from which it is discernible that Slovenian side is dissatisfied with the borders that existed in the time of the former state and that upon independence became international borders under international law, actually calls for the change of borders related to some events from the past, and as such it is unacceptable to the Republic of Croatia and is in collision with the basic principles of international law.

Croatian views of this matter are clear. The starting point for the Republic of Croatia are the basic documents adopted on the day of the declaration of sovereignty and independence of both states, the findings of the Badinter Commission, and the provisions of international law, and the Republic of Croatia insists on their consistent observance.

With regard to the settlement of open border issues the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Croatia supports the continued work of the interstate commissions set up in accordance with the agreement of the two Prime Ministers in Bled on August 2007, as discussed at the last meeting of Foreign Ministers of both states in July this year.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration reiterates the readiness of the Republic of Croatia to continue to settle any open issues with the Republic of Slovenia in the spirit of good neighbourly relations and cooperation, and calls on Slovenian side to do the same.



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