Croatia PM: Slovene Referendum Politically Unwise

The prime minister said Croatia did not prejudge the border between the two countries in any documents in the accession talks.

ZAGREB, CROATIA – Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader said on Wednesday that if Slovenia opted for a referendum about Croatia’s accession to the European Union, Slovenian citizens would for the most part probably support Croatia.

- If Slovenia is to go through with this, although it would not be politically wise, I am certain that Slovenian citizens would largely support Croatia – Sanader said, commenting on announcements by Slovenian Foreign Minister Samuel Zbogar that Slovenia could hold a referendum on Croatia’s accession into the EU if the border dispute is not resolved soon.

The Croatian Prime Minister reiterated that Croatia had not prejudged the border between Croatia and Slovenia in any of the documents handed as part of its accession negotiations, adding that he did not accept the fact of anybody forbidding any documents that are in Croatia’s favour to be presented to an international organ of justice.

Ready for a meeting with the Slovenian prime minister 

Sanader recalled that it had been earlier agreed that the two countries will go before the International Court of Justice in The Hague regarding the border dispute, adding that he does not see why this agreement should not go through.

Sanader also sees no reason for not using the Croatian-Slovenian commission for border issues.

The Croatian prime minister also reiterated he was prepared with a meeting with his Slovenian counterpart, but he demanded that the meeting be present either by a representative of the EU’s chairing country (currently the Czech Republic) or of the European Commission.

- Then each side should make their points – Pahor as to why he is blocking us, and we will make our own points – Sanader said.