Slovenian parliament backs border deal with Croatia

(LJUBLJANA) - A deal to resolve a long-running border dispute between Slovenia and Croatia cleared another key hurdle Monday, when the Slovenian parliament approved settling the issue via arbitration.

Under the terms of a deal signed by Ljubljana and Zagreb in November, the two sides want an arbitration panel to decide on a small piece of land and sea disputed by the two former Yugoslav states for the past 18 years.

The issue has even stalled Zagreb's negotiations to join the European Union. But under the terms of the deal, the arbitration panel's ruling on the matter will be legally binding.

The Croatian parliament already ratified the deal in November, while Slovenia decided to wait first for a ruling by its constitutional court.

Last month the court ruled that the deal was legal and constitutional.

In Monday's vote, which was nevertheless boycotted by the centre-right opposition, 48 out of a total 90 deputies voted in favour of arbitration.

The next and final step for approval on the Slovenian side will be a popular referendum, likely to be held on June 6.

"The arbitration deal provides Slovenia with the best instrument so far for solving the border issue (with Croatia) and for fulfilling our national interests," Prime Minister Borut Pahor said in an address to parliament.

However, the vote was boycotted by the centre-right opposition which sees the deal as harmful to Slovenia's interests since it opens the way for Croatia's EU accession regardless of the resolution of the dispute.

Under Slovenian law, if voters reject the deal at the referendum, the parliament has to reconsider the bill.