CABAR CABAR, Dec 11 (Hina) - Croatian and Slovene Foreign Ministers Tonino Picula and Dimitrij Rupel on Wednesday opened the Zamost-Osilnica local border crossing near Cabar.
CABAR, Dec 11 (Hina) - Croatian and Slovene Foreign Ministers
Tonino Picula and Dimitrij Rupel on Wednesday opened the Zamost-
Osilnica local border crossing near Cabar. #L#
The crossing is the first of 27 border crossings the two countries
are to open in line with an agreement on local border traffic
between the two countries, which took effect in September 2001.
Five more local border crossings in Medjimurje, Krapina-Zagorje
and Karlovac counties will be opened by the end of this year.
Picula said the border crossing would facilitate cooperation
between people on both sides of the border and enable Croatia to
introduce European border control standards. The Croatian-Slovene
border is an open but controlled border, which will help stop the
emigration of residents from the area and bring Croatia a step
closer to the EU, Picula said.
Rupel said that ties between Croatia and Slovenia were strong and
should continue to be based on peace and security. He expressed hope
that the introduction of the Schengen border regime by Slovenia
would not jeopardise the countries' relations.
Speaking to reporters after the opening ceremony and talks, the two
ministers said they had agreed to start planning joint efforts
regarding the environmental protection of the Adriatic. The
officials said they would present their proposal to other members
of the Adriatic-Ionian initiative.
Picula and Rupel said the existing agreement on the border regime in
Piran Bay would probably be extended, as it had proven successful.
Local population with permanent residence in the border area will
be able to use the newly-opened crossing with border passes, while
other citizens will be able to cross the border with one-off permits
issued at the border crossing and valid tourist permits. The
crossing will be open from 6 am to 10 pm.
(hina) rml