Daliy newspaper Vecer

 says in its Friday's commentary that the decision of the arbitration tribunal on the border between Slovenia and Croatia is not optimal for either side, but one can say that it is fair and that it adequately takes into account the interests of both countries.

Slovenia can claim a majority of the Bay of Piran and a very important junction with the high seas, which includes the key regime for free navigation into the international waters, the paper notes.

Of course, not everything went ideally and we sympathise with every Slovenia who remained on the Croatian side of the border against their expectations, Večer says, adding that the Slovenian government is obliged to make their life easier.

There is no reason for euphoria, but for sobriety in the next moves, the paper adds, arguing that Slovenian opposition parties actually lack the ammunition to attack the ruling.

If Croatia, meanwhile, continues insisting that it will not allow the ruling to be implemented, this could soon return to it like a boomerang when it is time for the country to enter the Schengen zone or the euro area.

In any case, by ignoring the ruling, Croatia would further solidify itself in the group of countries with a limited political credibility, all this coming in a difficult financial situation, with its conglomerate Agrokor struggling.

A document of such a weight which is supported by international law cannot be "done away with Balkan rituals and the lack of principality".

Zagreb received a very explicit message on the eve of the announcement of the decision, when the government of Angela Merkel spoke in favour of the arbitration as the key administration in the current balance of power in the EU.

Arbitration must not become a source of new frustrations for people or tensions that could be politically abused. The economic and social crisis has pushed the Western Balkans towards conflict, and any playing with fire would be extremely dangerous, concludes the commentary.

Daily newspaper "Primorski Dnevnik"

The regional paper Primorske novice hopes in Friday's commentary that the border arbitration decision will not result in worsening Slovenia-Croatia relations, as this would be the worst possible outcome for both countries and their citizens.

The decision of the arbitration tribunal was not surprising, as it used a characteristic compromise-seeking manner to divide the disputed areas between both parties in the procedure.

The notorious junction with the high seas, the mentioning of the principle of equity and good neighbourly relations and the reference date of 25 June 1991 have tipped the scales to the Slovenian side already in the foundations.

Croatia was well aware of this already when it signed the arbitration agreement, which is why it tried with all means to avoid the arbitration ruling.

Although the arbitrators gave Croatia a bigger part of the disputed land areas, the implementation of the ruling will certainly take longer that the arbitration procedure itself, perhaps even longer than the border dispute.

What is important is that no-one loses their mind during this period, the paper says, noting that this makes the finalisation of the border determination procedure a great challenge for both countries.

In this period, Slovenia will have to eliminate in their roots those who would like to confirm the country's sovereignty by calling to arms.

Croatian politics, which has poisoned its public lately with the stance that the arbitration ruling is not valid anyway, will have an even tougher job.

If its fails to prepare its public to accept the ruling, it would be responsible for possible booing of Slovenian President Borut Pahor as he visits Dubrovnik today, or for the feeling of fear in Slovenians who would go to Croatia on holidays.

This would be the worst possible outcome of the arbitration, as both countries and its citizens would be on the losing end, concludes the Koper-based daily.

Daily newspaper "Delo" 

The newpaper says that the border arbitration decision sees both Slovenia and Croatia winning and losing something they wanted, which is why it is balanced. This is expressed in the decision awarding Slovenia three-quarters of the Bay of Piran and the Sveta Gera peak to Croatia.

Those who closely followed the decision of the arbitration tribunal could see that it had weighed every detail and set up clear and logical principles, which is why there should be no doubts that its solutions are in accordance with law and justice.

When the head of the arbitration tribunal finished reading the ruling, it was obvious that Slovenia accepted it with mixed feelings. The people in Mirišče and Drage were happy, while those in the four hamlets along the Dragonja river were disappointed.

But it would not be realistic to expect that Slovenia would get everything it wanted. Each side got something and lost something, which makes the decision balanced, the paper says.

The first signal sent from Slovenian politics suggests disappointment, especially because of the junction with the high seas. This topic will certainly be debated a lot in the coming days, with the first possible conclusion being that Slovenia got a contact with the high seas in a creative and unique way.

When Slovenian parties start entangling themselves in conflicts, they should not overlook the fact that the arbitration agreement was confirmed in a referendum and that it would be reasonable to stay united in the implementation of the ruling.

Should there be enough common sense on both sides, Slovenia and Croatia could close a chapter of disputes in their book of bilateral relations and start writing a new chapter on truly good neighbourly relations.

Anyone who tries to ignore or challenge the arbitration tribunal would be doing themselves a bad favour, concludes the commentary.

Daily newspaper "Dnevnik"

The Solomonic decision of the arbitration tribunal on the border between Slovenia and Croatia, which actually is not particularly unfavourable for either country, needs to be implemented and there will certainly never be a different demarcation between Slovenia and Croatia,

But we have to be prepared for the possibility that the ruling will be implemented only if Croatia gets offered a side door for exiting its current situation.

For example, if the implementation is not separated from the "peace agreements" on the remaining Yugoslavia succession fronts.

Our Bay of Piran and their Sveta Gera Hill will thus very probably find themselves eventually in the same package as the foreign currency savings in the defunct LB bank and nuclear waste from the jointly-owned N-plant.

Trade will thus continue, but trade is better than shooting, Dnevnik says, adding that Slovenians and Croatians would do themselves the biggest favour by putting their authorities in front of the mirror and not letting themselves be fooled by their chauvinist political campaigns.

The last peaceful eight years are proof that it is possible to live without them and that border incidents were politically provoked, as they died out immediately after there was no political interest in them.

We should not let ourselves be stripped of such a luxury and peace, concludes the commentary.