Croatian PM Calls Slovenia to Suspend Blockade

If we did not solve the border, and Slovenia entered the EU with unsolved borders, then so can Croatia, said premier Sanader.

The Croatian premier Ivo Sanader called on Slovenia to suspend the blockade of Croatia in its negotiations with the European Union, stressing that the border troubles with Slovenia cannot be an obstacle for the entry of Croatia into the European Union.

“I call on Slovenia to suspend the blockade of Croatia, and as far as we are concerned, we will continue to do our job” said the Croatian premier and president of the HDZ (Croatian Democratic Union) Ivo Sanader in Split, celebrating the 19th anniversary of founding HDZ in that city.

The Cabinet and all the ministers, he added, received the task that all measures for closing chapters be finished, and I am certain that we will find a diplomatic solution.

Stressing that the border dispute in the Savudrija Bay is a bilateral issue that cannot be played as an obstacle to Croatia’s entry into the European Union, Sanader reminded Slovenia entered the EU with this open (border) issue.

“According to that, is we have not solved the border, and Slovenia entered the European Union with unsolved borders, then Croatia can do so also, and that issue should not be placed in European negotiations, because Slovenia did not have it either” stressed Sanader.

“We have to go together before the International Court of Justice and everyone can present their arguments, and let that court, on the basis of arguments, say exactly where the border is in the Savudrija Bay” said Sanader. He repeated that Croatia will not allow anyone to prohibit them from delivering documents to that court. He added that he spoke about that with the Slovenian premier Borut Pahor and said that this suggested that they have a poorer position.

“Let Slovenia bring all of the documents in the world”

“I would never prohibit you even in my thoughts of bringing your documents. Let Slovenia bring all of the documents in the world that they think will help them, and Croatia will do that as well” said Sanader to Pahor.

He stressed that Croatia has nothing against Slovenia, and that in the former Yugoslavia, Croatia and Slovenia were the two most friendly and most advanced republics, and that this is the way it should stay. “I am certain that between the Croatian and Slovenian people there are no problems and that we are tied by good neighbourly relations and friendship” said Sanader. He added that a sign of that friendship is that many Slovenians come to the sea in Croatia and that they are our good and welcome friends.