Seek Solution to Dispute at International Court!

The European Council head suggests arbitration for solving the dispute between Croatia and Slovenia, but good will will be needed, he said.

The Croatian-Slovene bilateral dispute can only be solved at an international court, arbitration or on a special arbitration court, Czech Prime Minister and head of the European Council, Mirek Topolanek, said. 

- This should remain a bilateral issue and the Czech chairmanship can become involved in solving it. But this problem can only be solved at an international court, at an arbitration or a special arbitration court. For this, good will will have to exist on both sides and the moves of the two governments will have to be confirmed by the national parliaments, which was difficult to do in the past – Topolanek told a news conference in Strasbourg.

Stressing that this issue does not only pertain to Croatia’s accession negotiations with the EU, but also the ratification of Croatia’s joining NATO, he added that the Slovene parliament should next week vote on the ratification of the protocol on NATO’s expansion to Croatia.

The demarcation at sea is, unfortunately, blocking accession negotiations

- At this time it is most important to speed up Croatia’s accession negotiations, which is not only connected with the EU, but also the voting on the ratification on joining NATO – he said.

According to diplomatic sources, the Czech presidency has started talks with their European partners about Croatia’s accession negotiations with the EU in the context of wider European political subjects, wishing to hear their opinions about solving the Slovenian blockade of Croatia’s negotiations.

There is also an idea, the sources say, that a meeting be convened between the foreign ministers of Croatia and Slovenia in the presence of their Czech colleague.