The decision which the Janez Jansa cabinet made in Ljubljana on Thursday was met with severe criticism in Zagreb. The Croatian government described it as "a politically detrimental decision which is not in accordance with mutually confirmed efforts aimed at building highly developed good-neighbourly relations on the basis of full mutual confidence, friendship and cooperation".
The Croatian government issued a press release on Thursday saying that although Ljubljana's bill is legally groundless and invalid and does not and cannot have legal effects, it objectively reflects an attempt to lay claims to Croatian territory, which is absolutely "contrary to international law and basic principles of international relations".
Regardless of the fact that Slovenia has stressed that the borders of the ecological zone are temporary, it is obvious that the cited co-ordinates of the southern side of the temporary boundary line encroach upon the Croatian state territory, the Croatian government's press release notes.
Slovenia's decision violates the UN convention on the law of the sea and its principle under which the coast defines all other sea zones. The Slovene land border reaching the sea does not provide for any exit to the open seas or the right to the epicontinental shelf, which means that Slovenia is not entitled to any other zones outside its territorial waters, the Croatian government states explaining that Slovenia's territorial waters are closed off by the Italian and Croatian territorial waters.
The press release reads that the Slovene decision is contrary to the contents and spirit of the joint (Croatian-Slovene) declaration on avoidance of incidents which the two counties' prime ministers adopted this summer confirming that none of the sides would make any decision that may lead to a new situation regarding the joint border.
The Croatian government reiterated its proposal that the two countries go to international arbitration regarding the dispute on the sea border.
Zagreb will notify other neighbours on the Adriatic, relevant international institutions and the European Union of its position on the said bill and on the protection of the Croatian state interests in compliance with international law.
The Croatian government confirmed its commitment and interest in continuing dialogue with Slovenia about all outstanding issues in the sprit of reciprocity, equality and in accordance with international law and European Union standards.
The Croatian Foreign Ministry has called Croatian Ambassador in Ljubljana Mario Nobilo for urgent consultations in light of the new circumstances. The Ministry has also called on Slovene Ambassador in Zagreb Peter Bekes to explain his government's move.
The Ministry's State Secretary, Hido Biscevic, is to notify European Union member-states' ambassadors in Croatia about the new developments and Croatia's position, the press release concluded.