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During discussions on Croatia's progress at the European Parliament, Slovenia's foreign minister, Dr Dimitrij Rupel, mentioned that Croatia had practically broken off its diplomatic relationship with Slovenia. According to our diplomatic head, he had not met his Croatian counterpart for several months.

The statement caused quite a storm on the floor of the Croatian parliament and angry Croatian politicians were not backward in letting their feelings be known. The Croatian prime minister, Ivo Sanader, claimed that Dr Rupel had crossed the line in diplomatic relations between the two countries before laying the blame for any problems squarely at our FM's feet by saying that if anyone had tried to damage diplomatic ties it was Rupel himself. Sanader also appealed to the Slovenian FM to behave in accordance with established protocols between the two neighbouring countries that have open issues and are trying to resolve them in the European spirit.

Vulgarians?

Dr Rupel, of course, did not lay down and allow himself to be kicked about by Sanader who also claimed that the FM had spoken untruths. "Calling the Minister of Foreign Affairs of a friendly, neighbouring country a liar is hardly in accordance with normal diplomatic behaviour," said Dr Rupel before suggesting that the Croatian reactions were vulgar. He stressed that he had not spoken untruths nor had he exaggerated by saying that diplomatic contact had ceased; he was merely referring to the fact that in 2007, he had met only once - informally - with the then Croatian FM Kolinda Grabar Kitarović.

Croatia took the opportunity to claim that Slovenia was using the EU presidency to settle bilateral issues. A number of political analysts from the other side of the border suggested that the chairing country usually puts its own diplomatic issues on hold for those six months and Rupel was not doing that. They added that Slovenia should not be trying to resolve the Ecological and Fisheries Protection Zone (EFPZ) problem bilaterally, but rather put European interests first.

After the harsh words had been exchanged, the Slovenian Foreign Minister and his Croatian counterpart, Goran Jandroković, finally met during the course of a security conference in Munich. The meeting was both positive and constructive according to both men. "We mostly discussed the negotiating process between Croatia and the EU. Slovenia has supported Croatia on its journey towards the EU from the very beginning and wants it to join the EU family as soon as possible," Dr Rupel said encouragingly. The two ministers also said they had discussed the EFPZ problem - the biggest bilateral issue according to Jandroković - and that both countries are willing to seek a mutually beneficial resolution.

Diplomatic disclosure

Just as the tensions with our southern neighbour seemed to be easing, a scandal erupted at home when a document allegedly detailing discussions between Slovenian and American officials in Washington was leaked to the press. According to reports in the daily, Dnevnik, at talks between Foreign Ministry official Mitja Drobnič and US State Department officials on December 24th 2007, it was suggested to Drobnič what Slovenia's priorities should be during its six-month presidency and who should be the first country to recognize Kosovo as an independent state.

Dr Rupel, who immediately ordered an investigation into the leak, did not deny the existence of the document nor its content, while a Foreign Ministry statement characterized those who had leaked the document as "neither loyal citizens of Slovenia nor worthy of being called diplomats". Slovenia's diplomatic corps was also critical of the leaking and publication of the document. "This would not have happened if it were not for the dishonesty of some Foreign Ministry employees who seemingly are no longer interested in doing something constructive for their country," a petition signed by 339 diplomatic staff members stated. In the meantime, Prime Minister Janez Janša denied that anyone is trying to tell Slovenia how to preside over the EU, while the foreign minister tried to assert that the leaked document had not harmed Slovenia's relationship with the USA, although it had caused "some minor tension".

Calls for Rupel's resignation

Although Mitja Drobnič resigned from his post, the storm raged on unabated and those investigating the leak began to focus on the ambassador, Marjan Šetinc. His official computer was seized and after his phone records were reviewed, a connection with Dnevnik was allegedly established. Šetinc denied any involvement in the release of the confidential document and announced that he was lodging a lawsuit against the state for violating human rights. The lawsuit was later withdrawn after the parties involved reached an agreement.

Calls for Dr Rupel's resignation have been getting louder since the resignation of Drobnič and a group of independent MP's publicly requested the foreign minister to step down saying that the resignation of the bureaucrat did not exonerate the FM or the PM in the matter.