Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic on Monday after meeting with the chairs of parliamentary groups said that Croatia was withdrawing from the Slovenian-Croatian border arbitration procedure because it had been "contaminated" and assessed that this would not influence relations between the two countries.
Reuters notes that Croatia had announced that it would withdraw from the (arbitration) process that has been contaminated and recalls that after the arbitration agreement was reached Slovenia unblocked talks on Croatian membership of the European Union. Reuters also notes that the tribunal consists of three judges who should be independent of national governments.
France Presse writes that Croatia has decided to "momentarily suspend" the international arbitration process, and adds the Slovenia's prime minister said that Croatia cannot pull out of the process.
Italy's ANSA and the Austrian APA also reported on Croatia's decision and explain that this is Croatia's response to last week's scandal when Zagreb-based daily Vecernji List published excerpts from a leaked tape in which Slovenian judge Jernej Sekolec discusses confidential details of the case, the probable outcomes and strategy, with Simona Drenik, who represents Slovenia's Foreign Ministry before the court.
The agencies note however that Slovenia has responded that the procedure will continue once it appoints a new judge after Sekolec resigned.
Tanjug reports that Croatia had decided to exit the arbitration and the Beta agency says that the final decision will be made at an extraordinary session of parliament on Wednesday. Some agencies however, have reported that the decision has in fact been made and that it is expected that parliament will give it its full support.