Unofficial sources in Ljubljana state that the authorities in Zagreb are exerting pressure to gain a better position before possible international arbitration on the sea border.
"The authorities in Zagreb are now sending notes about Slovene vessels crossing the imaginary borderline in an effort to improve their position before possible arbitration," the Slovene press quoted an anonymous Slovene diplomat as saying.
The position of the Slovene authorities on the latest incidents in Savudrija Bay is that any situation in which Croatian police and civilian vessels cross the imaginary borderline of Slovene police control or maritime activity should be considered an incident.
The leading Slovene daily "Delo" of Thursday reports that the very use of the name Savudrija Bay in the Croatian note is "particularly significant". "The new name for Piran Bay", says the daily, "was invented by Croatian right-wing extremists and Savudrija fishermen" and was then "accepted by Croatian diplomats and top officials, including Prime Minister (Ivo) Sanader".
The Slovene electronic media reported this evening that Ljubljana and Zagreb were conducting new negotiations on a "fishing code" in the disputed area in order to avoid incidents on the sea.
Slovene political parties, both those from the opposition and those close to the government, have urged Prime Minister Anton Rop to take more "energetic" measures regarding Piran Bay and protect national interests on the sea.