Eurasia Press & News
Slovenia said it will reject an EU proposal to use international arbitration to settle the ongoing border dispute with Croatia which threatens to stall Zagreb’s accession to the bloc, unless Brussels accepts Slovene amendments
“Unless amendments which are of major importance to Slovenia are included, Slovenia will not accept the proposal,” Slovenian Prime Minister Borut Pahor told a news conference on Tuesday after holding a meeting with all parliamentary parties on the issue.
Last week, Croatia accepted a proposal put forward by Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn to settle the 18-year old border dispute.
Pahor had said Slovenia, which vetoed progress on Croatia’s EU entry in December, would send amendments to the European Commission by the end of this week but gave no details.
According to local media, Ljubljana was unhappy because the proposal separated talks about the sea and land borders and demanded Slovenia lift its veto as soon as the two countries agree to mediation.
Slovenia also seeks direct access to international waters in the northern Adriatic, which would force Croatia to cede a part of the sea it claims as its own.
“I believe Slovenia expects Commissioner Rehn to draft a new proposal. However, this will mean further delay and lessen Croatia’s chances of completing talks this year,” Borut Hocevar, a political commentator of daily Zurnal24, told Reuters.
Croatia still hopes to complete talks this year and join the EU in 2010 or 2011.
Rehn proposed forming an ad hoc arbitration commission for the border, which should operate on principles of international law, something Croatia insists on. The commission would have five members, with Slovenia and Croatia appointing one each.
For Slovenia’s access to international waters, which is a key worry for Ljubljana, arbitrators could also take into consideration what is fair and equitable, as demanded by Ljubljana.
The EU’s Czech presidency has canceled scheduled accession conferences with Zagreb in March and April because Slovenia’s veto blocked the opening and closing of negotiating chapters.
