Border dispute has Slovenia withdraw support for Croatia's membership in EU

The Slovenian government has withdrawn its support for Croatia's membership in the European Union after an incident in a disputed border area. The arrest of 12 Slovenians, including two parliamentarians, by Croatian police led to a low point in relations between the two neighbours.

Relations between Slovenia and Croatia have occasionally been rocky since both countries declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. A continuing problem remains the land and sea border between the two nations, which has not been fully agreed on.

One particular flashpoint is the house of Josko Joras, a Slovenian who lives in a disputed area near the border crossing Dragonja that is claimed by both sides. On Wednesday, Janez Podobnik, the president of the conservative Slovenian People's Party (SLS) and 11 other Slovenians visited the house and refused to show their documents to Croatian border police, arguing that they were still in Slovenia. A scuffle ensued and the 12 were arrested. They were released several hours later. In response, Slovenia recalled its ambassador to Zagreb, and Foreign Minister Ivo Vajgl hastily returned from U.N. meetings in New York. Vajgl was quick to condemn the incident and threatened to withdraw support for Croatian EU membership:

"The behaviour of the Croatian police was not appropriate. Because of this, the government of the Republic of Slovenia cannot unconditionally support Croatia as a candidate for membership in the European Union."

Slovenia

Slovenia joined the EU in May, while Croatia is expected to begin accession talks next year and join by the year 2009. A Slovenian veto could seriously delay Croatia's entry, a prospect that angers many Croats.

Drago Balazic, a correspondent for Slovenian national television and radio reported from Croatia:

"With regard to the incident at the border crossing Secovlje, Croatia believes that the guilt lies solely on the Slovenian side, and that a political group used the incident to gain political capital. All former governments and all political parties agree that the Croatian police handled the incident well. Croatia is sure that all three villages on the Croatian side of the border crossing Dragonja are part of Croatian territory."

Roman Jakic, president of Slovenia's parliamentary group on Foreign Policy, was quick to stress that the existing border was not fixed, and open to negotiations:

"The Croatian president has sent an official letter to the Slovenian president, in which he said that the current border crossing is only temporary, and that they won't be used to determine the final border."

Adding to the tenderness of the issue is the fact that Slovenia will hold general elections on October 3rd, putting pressure on politicians not to appear weak in this dispute.

SLS president Janez Podobnik, who sought medical attention for bruises he said he received during the incident, said he was satisfied with the reaction so far:

"The best thing that we achieved is that the government referred to the incident happening on "Slovenian" territory near Dragonja."

Meanwhile, Slovenia's president Janez Drnovsek, who also believes the incident happened on Slovenian territory, said he was hoping for an apology from Croatia. He also said that since the border is in dispute, the police should have shown themselves to be more flexible. He called for calm on both sides, and expressed hope that the incident would be handled in a European way.

In the meantime, the government of Prime Minister Anton Rop has withdrawn support for Croatia's EU membership, and says it will begin legal procedures against the officers involved in the incident.

Whether this will help spur a final settlement on the disputed border between Slovenia and Croatia remains to be seen.