ZAGREB, CROATIA – At Monday’s meeting, Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, President Stjepan Mesic and Parliament Speaker Luka Bebic, as well as representatives of parliamentary parties and national minorities adopted a joint stance which will be issued in the form of a statement by next Monday regarding Slovenia’s blockade of Croatia’s accession negotiations with the European Union. 

- We concluded a that bilateral issue should not be mixed with the negotiations of any country for

The Slovenian and Croatian governments agreed on Bled that commissions should establish the legal framework and the mediation commission can be taken into consideration only then.

Radimir Cacic

Asked whether Croatia would accept the mediation of the international commission as suggested by Olli Rehn, Which the Slovenians agreed to, Sanader said the commission is welcome to prepare the legal framework for going to the International Court of Justice.

- We will not hand out our territory in order to access any organisation. After this meeting at which all parliamentary parties agreed on this, we can say that the entire nation is behind this, not just the government. We have the support of both the opposition and the public – the prime minister said.

A working group has been formed that will revise the text of the statement.

- Our stance is clear and unanimous. We are still insisting on judicial institutions and it is certain that mediation can help define the legal framework. The Slovenian and Croatian governments agreed on Bled that commissions should establish the legal framework and the mediation commission can be taken into consideration only then – Cacic concluded.