PULA, Jan 22 (Hina) - A Croatian MP on Friday said that four hamlets in Istria near the Croatian-Slovene border were unquestionably within Croatia's internationally recognised borders. MP Damir Kajin, president of the Istrian County
Assembly, spoke to Hina about the hamlets of Skrili, Skudelini, Buzini, and Mlini in the wake of residents' statements saying the four hamlets belong to the Slovene Municipality of Piran, and their announcements of protests and a petition on the matter. The residents of the four hamlets forwarded letters to Croatian and Slovene authorities stating their claims and expressing their dissatisfaction with the Slovene negotiators' lack of success. "It is irrefutable that this is Croatia's part of Istria, and there is no doubt about that," Kajin said. "Those people must be heard out, but also told that no territorial changes are possible," he added. Kajin said Slovenia
PULA, Jan 22 (Hina) - A Croatian MP on Friday said that four hamlets
in Istria near the Croatian-Slovene border were unquestionably
within Croatia's internationally recognised borders.
MP Damir Kajin, president of the Istrian County Assembly, spoke to
Hina about the hamlets of Skrili, Skudelini, Buzini, and Mlini in
the wake of residents' statements saying the four hamlets belong to
the Slovene Municipality of Piran, and their announcements of
protests and a petition on the matter.
The residents of the four hamlets forwarded letters to Croatian and
Slovene authorities stating their claims and expressing their
dissatisfaction with the Slovene negotiators' lack of success.
"It is irrefutable that this is Croatia's part of Istria, and there
is no doubt about that," Kajin said.
"Those people must be heard out, but also told that no territorial
changes are possible," he added.
Kajin said Slovenia obviously did not care about the four hamlets,
but was interested in the sea-border.
In Slovenia, "they are aware of the fact that if they want to have
access to open sea, the sea-border has to be moved five to six miles
south of Piran Bay," Kajin said.
He however added that moving the sea-border would make "Croatia's
part of Istria lose direct connection by territorial waters with
Italy, which for us is unacceptable."
"The latest case should not be additionally accentuated, just as no
special attention was given during last year's local elections in
Slovenia, when a dozen residents of the four hamlets voted at
electoral posts in Secovlje (Slovenia)," Kajin concluded.
He wondered why Croatian and Slovene delegations did not include in
talks on borders representatives of local self-government who,
Kajin believes, would certainly help overcome the created
barriers.
(hina) ha jn