I presented lawmakers with the background to the events and all the options that Slovenia has after Italy and Croatia declared exclusive economic zones in the Adriatic, Logar said after a meeting of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee.
He added that the debate was constructive and that lawmakers were well informed of the matter and conveyed their support to the ministry’s planned activities related to Italy and Croatia’s plans.
Logar is satisfied with the trilateral cooperation with Italy and Croatia to date regarding exclusive economic zones after Slovenia was included in the consultations.
The foreign ministers of all three countries met in Trieste on 19 December and in that way established a “platform for cooperation,” on the political and expert level, added Logar.
A new trilateral meeting will be held soon in Rome, he added, rejecting criticism in the media that the incumbent government should have opposed Croatia’s declaration of an exclusive economic zone until Zagreb agrees to implement the arbitration ruling in the border dispute which Croatia has been rejecting, while insisting on a bilateral solution for the border in the sea.
Logar considers media claims that Slovenia will be left without access to the high seas and that Croatia and Italy will be able to stop Slovenian ships on their way to Koper port as exaggerated.
“It is difficult to believe that Croatia would act that way and violate one of the fundamental freedoms in the European Union, that is the right to free movement of goods,” said Logar, adding that sea routes in the Adriatic are regulated by other conventions in any case.
