The President of the Republic of Croatia Zoran Milanovi\u0107 held a working meeting with the President of the Republic of Slovenia Borut Pahor, who said that he views the decision of the new Croatian President to come to Slovenia on his first foreign visit as an expression of goodwill and friendship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In their press statements after the meeting, the two Presidents emphasized a commitment to building friendship between the two nations. They agreed that border arbitration and Croatia\u2019s accession to the Schengen Area were important issues for both countries, and expressed their conviction that Croatia and Slovenia could resolve them as civilized States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
International law is the basis for solving the Croatian-Slovenian border dispute, on which the European Commission and the European Court of Justice (ECJ) have taken positions, President Zoran Milanovi\u0107 remarked after holding talks with his Slovenian counterpart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He warned that the two countries were \u201cnowhere\u201d in terms of procedure and that it was necessary to see how to proceed. The basis will be \u201cwhat we agree.\u201d \u201cIt is necessary to sit at the table and talk, literally and figuratively, and see how to proceed,\u201d said the Croatian President. He confirmed that Croatia\u2019s accession to the Schengen Area was also discussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCroatia wishes to enter Schengen and it is obvious that Slovenia can benefit the most from that,\u201d said President Milanovi\u0107. \u201cIf Croatia currently was not present on the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is a question what situation Slovenia would be in in protecting its own border and the external border of Schengen,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
President Milanovi\u0107 said he understood that Slovenia could not ignore the arbitration issue in Piran Bay just like that \u201cbecause it has been going on too long and it has an emotional element.\u201d He added, however, that there are border disputes in the EU that have lasted since 1815 and \u201cone lives with that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSlovenia is in a position to say \u2018yes\u2019 or \u2018no\u2019 here. The European Commission has assessed that Croatia meets all the technical requirements [for Schengen] and Slovenia now has to see what suits it,\u201d President Milanovi\u0107 remarked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He reminded that Croatia was criticised in the European Parliament for being rough and too aggressive in protecting its border, adding that there was both truth and exaggeration in that. \u201cBut that is a tough job that we will and would, in case we enter the Schengen regime as soon as possible, have to do even more intensively,\u201d President Milanovi\u0107 asserted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slovenian President Pahor said the outstanding issues would not be resolved overnight but that they should be approached in the spirit of \u201cmutual respect, good neighbourliness and European values.\u201d He reiterated, however, Slovenia\u2019s position on the need to honour the arbitration award.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSlovenia considers that the tribunal has delivered a judgment and that it must be honoured,\u201d President Pahor said, adding that resolving outstanding issues was of \u2018strategic\u2019 importance for Slovenia, both in terms of security and the economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
President Pahor directly tied Croatia\u2019s prospective entry to the Schengen Area to the final settlement of the border dispute, i.e. the enforcement of the arbitral tribunal\u2019s 2017 award. \u201cIt is in Slovenia\u2019s interest that Schengen expand to Croatia. The element of security is very important for Slovenia. But if a mutual agreement were reached on the arbitral tribunal, this would make it easier for Slovenia to adopt a decision on Croatia\u2019s Schengen accession,\u201d President Pahor emphasized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Asked what he expected of Slovenia\u2019s new government if Janez Jan\u0161a became Prime Minister, President Milanovi\u0107 said Jan\u0161a had been Prime Minister in two terms already. \u201cI am convinced there will be no negative surprises, but there will be a dialogue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both Presidents supported the cooperation of Croatia and Slovenia in the Alpe-Adria and Brdo-Brijuni initiatives, and strongly supported EU enlargement to North Macedonia and Albania. \u201cWe support enlargement to those two countries which have been kept on the side for a long time, and keeping them in uncertainty is counterproductive and dangerous,\u201d President Milanovi\u0107 said. He expressed disappointment that they have been treated as \u201cpoor, less worthy brothers\u201d although they have met many requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet\u2019s be realistic. Some conditions they will never fulfil and cannot fulfil, just as perhaps neither Croatia nor Slovenia ever would. Negotiations should commence with those countries as soon as possible and simultaneously,\u201d President Milanovi\u0107 asserted. The President believes that both Albania and North Macedonia had come far and that perhaps they were even blackmailed a little to change some things, such as their name. \u201cWhat now? Send the message that it\u2019s not enough? That is not the way to build a common Europe and a common house,\u201d President Milanovi\u0107 concluded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Asked if the measures Croatia has taken at the border to prevent coronavirus from spreading were excessive, President Milanovi\u0107 said he had noticed backups on the motorway, but noted he believed the Croatian Government was doing what was necessary. \u201cWe must take precautions, but without panic,\u201d underscored the Croatian President. President Pahor pointed out that this situation shows that cooperation is necessary because the health of our people is at stake. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The President of the Republic of Croatia Zoran Milanovi\u0107 held a working meeting with the President of the Republic of Slovenia Borut Pahor, who said that he views the decision of the new Croatian President to come to Slovenia on his first foreign visit as an expression of goodwill and friendship.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":983,"template":"","news-cat":[12],"class_list":["post-1899","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-cat-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n