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Southeast Europe |
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Relations between Slovenia and Croatia hit rock-bottom last week when Croatian police arrested 12 Slovenes in a disputed border area between the two countries. In response, Slovenia--which entered the EU just this spring--withdrew its support for Croatia’s EU membership application.
Among the 12 arrested Slovenes were Janez Podobnik, a former speaker of parliament, as well as another member of parliament. They were campaigning for the Slovene People’s Party, a former junior partner in the governing coalition, headed by Podobnik.
The group was visiting the house of a fellow party member in the disputed border area near the Bay of Piran, where they planted a symbolic tree of reconciliation.
Croatian police approached them as they were headed back toward a bridge between two border checkpoints. They refused to identify themselves, claiming to be on Slovene territory. Podobnik and others resisted arrest; in the hustling that followed, Podobnik fell to the ground.
Slovene police did not intervene.
The 12 were taken to a jail in Croatia and released a few hours later.
Among the 12 arrested Slovenes were Janez Podobnik, a former speaker of parliament, as well as another member of parliament. They were campaigning for the Slovene People’s Party, a former junior partner in the governing coalition, headed by Podobnik.
The group was visiting the house of a fellow party member in the disputed border area near the Bay of Piran, where they planted a symbolic tree of reconciliation.
Croatian police approached them as they were headed back toward a bridge between two border checkpoints. They refused to identify themselves, claiming to be on Slovene territory. Podobnik and others resisted arrest; in the hustling that followed, Podobnik fell to the ground.
Slovene police did not intervene.
The 12 were taken to a jail in Croatia and released a few hours later.
(TOL 01.x.04)
