Slovenia Has More Will to Solve Open Issues

The Slovenian Ambassador to Croatia thinks the relations between Croatia and Slovenia are like relations between a married couple.

ZAGREB, CROATIA – Neighbours sometimes have complicated relations and the relations between Croatia and Slovenia can be compared to a marriage between two people that sometimes has a crisis. Then the relations are not solved in the streets, but behind closed doors, between the married couple. I think that our relations has to and can be solved with talks, agreements and not squabbling via the media – the Slovenian Ambassador to Croatia, Milan Orozen Adamic, said after a New Year’s reception with Croatian President Stjepan Mesic.

The Slovenian ambassador answered reporters’ questions about relations between Croatia and Slovenia, and said that Slovenia had more will and wish to resolve the open issues between the two countries.

Commenting the question that Slovenia was among the first countries to have recognised Croatia’s independence, and now, 17 years later, is hindering Croatia’s accession into the European Union, Adamic said that the path towards independence of both Croatia and Slovenia went hand in hand.

- Luckily, we in Slovenia did not have a rough path to independence like Croatia did. Throughout the war in Croatia, Slovenia helped Croatia and we were always physically connected. Also, even today, every summer a million Slovenian tourists spend their holidays in Croatia and because of these facts we must all together contribute to the speedy solving of open issues – the ambassador said.

In the end, Ambassador Adamic wished Croatia all the best on its economic and political plan in 2009 and to as soon as possible reach the standard Croatia has reached. The mutual goal and wish of both countries is not to wish for something bad towards the other country, but to work jointly on the prosperity of both countries in the future.

- Slovenia is a small country, Croatia is a bit bigger, but in relation to other European countries, we are small and it is logical and we should cooperate, now and in the future – the ambassador said.