The Croatian premier Ivo Sanader arrived at the Mokrice castle in Slovenia for a meeting with the Slovenian premier Borut Pahor. Sanader arrived at the meeting place a few minutes early, whilst Pahor, like a true host, stood at the entrance to the castle half a hour early and awaited his Croatian colleague.

The Croatian premier was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Gordan Jandrokovic, as well as Vladimir Drobnjak, who is the main Croatian negotiator for entering the European Union.

Up until now, the two premiers have only communicated via the media, and after a few a Sanader’s calls for Pahor to come to Croatia, even for the handball matches during the World Handball Championship, today’s meeting can be considered a step forward compared to the events during the last few weeks.

The meeting was scheduled to last for an hour, after which they will address the press. A large number of Slovenian and Croatian journalists are monitoring this event, but television rights were only given to television stations with a national concession.

This is the first meeting between Ivo Sanader and Borut Pahor since Pahor took the position of Slovenian premier. The relations between the two countries were additionally complicated by the initiative to hold a Slovenian referendum on Croatia’s entry into the NATO alliance. Premier Sanader said before the meeting that he expects that the “story will end” today, at the meeting in Mokrice.

Take a look at the photo gallery: Premiers Ivo Sanader and Borut Pahor Meet.