Border deal raises hackles at home

06/11/2009

An agreement with Slovenia unblocks Croatia's EU bid, but rubs some bloggers the wrong way.

By Natasa Radic for Southeast European Times in Zagreb -- 06/11/09

Slovenian Prime Minister Borut Pahor shakes hands with Croatian counterpart Jadranka Kosor. [Getty images]

International arbitration will settle remaining border issues between Croatia and Slovenia, under a deal signed Wednesday (November 4th). Zagreb can now move ahead with its EU bid, stalled for months due to Slovenian objections, and the EU can take pride in having brokered a solution.

Domestic public opinion in both countries, however, is less sanguine. With national dignity at stake, some on both sides bristle at the possibility of having to make concessions.

"I am just watching the debate in the parliament. If I had hair, I would have pulled it out," laments Mrak.blog.

According to Pretenzije, the arbitration deal gives Slovenia a real chance to gain extra territory and benefits, and Croatia's interests would have been better served by taking the case before the International Court of Justice.

"We will face enormous damage in Croatia's future," he worries. "We will lose fish stock and gas resources that exist in that part of the sea."

Slovenians are similarly distrustful of the arrangement, with polls indicating that 87% of the public believe it favours Croatia. In both countries, many suspect that a "win-win" solution is impossible -- someone will have to make concessions, and neither side wants to be the one.

The deal also provides opposition politicians with rhetorical ammunition they can use against the incumbents. Vesna Skare Ozbolt, a candidate in Croatia's upcoming elections, says Zagreb "must not pay for EU entry with territory".

"Who will guarantee that another country will not block us on the way to the EU … [and] demand a new concession?" she asks.

Some, however, urge Croatians to take a broader view. Jadranka Juresko Kero, a Vecernji List correspondent, writes in her blog that Croatia is set to become a regional leader. Having already gained NATO membership, she suggests, it will see its role in the Balkans enhanced further once it enters the EU.

According to Juresko-Kero, the fact that both Croatia and Slovenia are in NATO has made it even more urgent to resolve their quarrel.

Without a final settlement, she writes, there is always the risk that bilateral relations could "deteriorate again overnight, opening the door to new blockades, postponement of negotiations and diplomatic warfare between Zagreb and Ljubljana".

Croatia became an official candidate for EU membership in 2004, and kicked off negotiations the following year.