Slovenia Irretrievably Ruined Its Image

MP Pusic criticised the Croatian state leadership which, she said, did not prepare for the consequences of the decision on mediation.

ZAGREB, CROATIA – The Croatian Opposition is dissatisfied with the formation of a working group in charge of constitutional amendments. The Social Democrats’ (SDP) Zoran Milanovic stressed that the government wants to provoke a conflict by seeking amendments to the constitution. He believes that parliament should decide on the constitution. 

- I have the impression that the government wants to provoke an unnecessary conflict by seeking constitutional amendments – Zoran Milanovic said on Croatian television on Monday night. He added that in this way the true situation in Croatia is being hidden. He also claimed that “the formed group that is to decide on amendments to the constitution should be dissolved”.

He mentioned an example from the pervious, Prime Minster Racan’s, government which initiated changes to the constitution with a two-thirds majority support in parliament and carried out the entire process in line with the constitution and at that time the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), who was in the opposition, did not complain against such a decision.

Milanovic believes that those parts which allow statute of limitations for crimes, meaning crimes committed in privatisation, should be amended.

Apart from denying media reports that Ivo Josipovic is the future candidate for president of the strongest opposition party in Croatia, he added that not much had been done over the last several months regarding the dispute with Slovenia to resolve it as it should be resolved.

Pusic: the fact that I was not present at the meeting only proves their attitude 

Guests at the show were Foreign Minister Gordan Jandrokovic, academician Davorin Rudolf, MP Vesna Pusic and MP Zdenka Cunhil. They agreed that Croatia should by no means buy membership in the EU by giving up its territory, which was unanimously stated on Monday at a meeting of state and party leaders.

Vesna Pusic, who is the chairwoman of the Croatian parliament’s national committee in charge of negotiations with the EU, was unpleasantly surprised with the fact that she had not been invited to Monday’s meeting. She said such a move was a bad one, adding that “this is the true indicator of how they are approaching the issue”. Pusic also thinks that it is still unknown what Ahtisaari’s commission would bring Croatia. She wanted to know in what way it is prepared to solve the dispute and whether Slovenia would, despite the mediation, be able to block Croatia again.

Slovenia’s reputation is ruined 

Minister Jandrokovic showed a bit of optimism, stressing that the commission is not necessarily a bad thing, but that its mandate has not been determined yet. Zdenka Cunhil said there was no reason for the EU presidency to cancel the new round of accession negotiations set for March 27 because, she said, she believes the dispute can be resolved by then.

Ivan Jakovcic believes that with its conduct, Slovenia has significantly ruined its reputation, which will cause it problems in the future and Minister Jandrokovic agreed with him. The guests in the studio also discussed the issue of the unity of Europe, but also the progress of negotiations.

Vesna Pusic harshly slammed the conduct of the state leadership which, according to her, has not prepared for what is to follow after a decision that will be made next Monday. She stressed that Europe’s unity was questionable considering the fact that the organisation’s constitution has not yet been ratified.