"Slovenia is the first Balkan state to have entered the European Union. This is very important for you, and presents a sort of obligation towards other countries in that area. It is necessary to solve disagreements in a peaceful, European manner," Solana told a news conference after the talks.
He did not explicitly mention a recent incident at the Plovanija border crossing between Croatia and Slovenia, although it was one of the topics he discussed with Slovene politicians.
Solana wrapped up his short visit to Slovenia on Tuesday morning after the meeting with Rop and Foreign Minister Ivo Vajgl. Solana and Rop then held a joint news conference at which reporters asked the EU official what he could recommend to Slovenia regarding the border dispute with Croatia and whether Ljubljana should accept international arbitration for the problem of sea border demarcation, which Croatia had already proposed.
Solana answered that he had arrived in Slovenia to receive a high state decoration, that Slovenia was now in a pre-election period, and that therefore, there would be time for such issues after the polls, scheduled for October 3.
Rop said that it was not necessary to talk Slovenia into agreeing to arbitration and added that his country wanted a dialogue with Croatia. According to Rop, immediately after the elections his cabinet will propose an agreement on "avoiding any kind of conflict".
"After the elections the present tension will let up," Rop told the news conference.
He also said that Slovenia in its capacity as a NATO and European Union member was playing an active role in the region and was willing to help all western Balkan countries in their efforts to join the European bloc.
"It is Slovenia's long-term interest to see Croatia as an EU member. On the other hand, like all other countries, it must meet the necessary criteria," the Slovene PM said.
Solana reiterated that the countries in the region should resolve all their disputes peacefully and through dialogue. He added that the doors of the EU were open to all of them.
The sooner they enter the EU, the better for everybody, Solana said.
Slovene President Janez Drnovsek on Monday evening presented Solana with a decoration for his efforts in helping Slovenia to enter the EU and NATO and for his role in solving the dispute between Slovenia and Italy in 1995 over the problem of the property of ethnic Italians who fled Slovenia in the wake of the Second World War. Before compromise was reached on the matter, Italy had threatened to block Slovenia's bid to join the Union.
Solan flew from Ljubljana to Kosovo later in the day.