PM Plenkovic: With Slovenia we can solve the problem only through dialogue and on the basis of international law

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Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday, on the margins of an EU summit meeting in Tallin,  to talk about the Croatia-Slovenia border dispute.

After the talks, Plenkovic told reporters that he had informed Merkel about Croatia's stance on the issue, reiterating that Zagreb considers it a bilateral issue.

In addition, the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has stated that he would like to see that issue being solved bilaterally.

I expect Germany to show understanding for this stance, since a verdict delivered by the arbitration tribunal cannot be implemented if there is no volition on both sides, even if there had been no other problems, Plenkovic said referring to Slovenia's undermining of the arbitration process.

Croatia refuses the ruling handed down by the arbitration tribunal because Slovenian officials illegally communicated with the judges and inserted documents in the case file based on which the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled on the matter this June. Slovenia, on the other hand, insists on the implementation of the ruling and rejects Zagreb's proposal to settle the dispute through bilateral dialogue.

"The only thing possible is civilised dialogue," Plenkovic said, adding that Zagreb is in favour of dialogue free of blackmailing, blockades and threats against Croatia's plan to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

"I will protect Croatian interests in all aspects." he said.

Plenkovic went on to say that he had explained to Merkel Croatia's position and asked her and other actors in the European Union to show understanding that this is about a matter "regulated primarily by the international law and should be dealt with through dialogue by the two neighbouring countries."

He said he was not in favour of any unilateral moves, underscoring that Croatia did not take any unilateral actions.

During his participation in the meeting in the Estonian capital, Plenkovic is due to meet his counterparts, Miro Cerar of Slovenia and Paolo Gentilone of Italy as well as the European Council President Donald Tusk and Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on Friday commented on the latest accusations by the owner of the debt-laden Agrokor company, Ivica Todoric, saying it would not be good if "the collective amnesia" about the reality of six months ago prevailed.

"Claims about government pressure are absolutely untrue. The law on Agrokor had primarily been drafted in a way that it could be activated only with the consent of the management board and not only by the government and it would not be good for the collective amnesia to prevail, and that (people) forget the most important reason why the law on companies of systemic importance was adopted and the domino effect that the Croatian economy could have suffered," Plenkovic said in Tallin where he attended a summit of EU leaders.

"We are doing what we believe is good. I said at the government session that all scenarios were put on the table and that we selected the one which in my opinion was the right one. The fact is that the company is functioning, that the tourist season was excellent, that jobs were saved, family farms paid out, suppliers are being paid out and that gives me the right to say that what we have done is good, It is critical that this process continues and that it leads to settlement and this is something that I, as prime minister, am interested in seeing," Plenkovic said.

Asked about the motives of Todoric's attacks on the government, Plekovic said he could not see what had changed since April. "Had there been any problem, it could have been anticipated 6,8,12 or 16 weeks ago," Plenkovic said.

Text: Hina



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