Under the declaration, until a final solution to the Croatian-Slovene border issue is found, the two countries will respect the situation as it was on June 25, 1991, and avoid incidents which could prejudge the solution of outstanding border issues and hamper the development of good neighbourly relations.
In undertaking measures to prevent and settle incidents, the two sides will consult one another and take into consideration the living, working and other needs of their citizens.
The declaration states that none of its provisions will prejudge the final solution of the border issue between the two countries.
At the first meeting of the two governments after 14 years, the two sides announced that a joint history commission would hold its first session this afternoon. The two countries' officials today signed several other bilateral agreements and acts, including agreements on the avoidance of double taxation, mutual assistance in customs-related issues, readmission, trade relations and cooperation between the ministries of culture and science and education.
Opening the meeting, Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader said the meeting was a sign of the two countries' readiness to raise their relations to "a new, higher level". Slovene PM Janez Jansa said the meeting proved that Croatia and Slovenia had decided to make steps that were possible and create an atmosphere that would facilitate the solving of other issues requiring more time.
"Sometimes it is necessary to make a few steps back and find a new path after old formulas have proven unsuccessful," Jansa said.
Both prime ministers said the two peoples shared a past that was unburdened by wars or longer periods of tension and that there were few nations sharing such a past.
Speaking about the crisis in the European Union following the French and Duch 'no' to the EU Constitution, Jansa said he had met different European officials in recent weeks and gained the impression that the prevailing position was to continue with the process of EU enlargement and that the referenda would not jeopardise the EU. Jansa repeated that Slovenia supported Croatia's admission to the EU and NATO.
PM Sanader supported the continuation of EU enlargement, stating that for Croatia it would mean the accomplishment of strategic goals. He said he hoped that Slovenia would contribute to overcoming the current crisis so that the process of EU enlargement could continue to the benefit of the entire Europe and so that Croatia could continue spreading the stabilisation wave further to South-East Europe after joining the EU.
Commenting on the declaration on the avoidance of border incidents, PM Sanader said it was proof of mutual responsibility, while Jansa said that it was proof of the European maturity of the two governments.
In a bid to start the implementation of the declaration, its signatories, Foreign Ministers Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic of Croatia and Dimitrij Rupel of Slovenia, agreed on the start of meetings between Croatian and Slovene representatives, from the level of interior ministers to the level of local authorities and fishermen.
Speaking about the constituting of the Croatian-Slovene history commission, the two ministers said that its conclusions would not be used in "political decision-making or arbitration".
Rupel said that during its two-year term the commission was expected to deal with the period until the first joint government session held in Brijuni in June 1991, and to shed light on some less known historical events.
Under the agreement on the avoidance of double taxation, the provision on pension allowances will go into force next month, while other provisions will go into force on January 1 next year.
Slovene PM Jansa said the next session of the two governments would be held at the end of this year in Slovenia.