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To summarize: Slovenia expect to end the long-lasting maritime border dispute by forcing Croatia into negotiations and compromise in exchange for lifting the gates into the EU. Political manoeuvres aside, every small step either country takes, it heads deeper into deterioration of relations. Needless to say, there have been miles of such steps since 1991 and seemingly very few in the opposite direction.

The international maritime law says that a land border ending at a sea bay should continue on the sea in the middle of the two shores unless agreed differently. Slovenian politicians, experts and mainstream media unanimously believe in our right for a "different agreement" for a series of reasons. Croatian politicians, experts and media, without exception, stick to the first part of the suggested law and refer to Slovenian demands as nothing but blackmail with heavy territorial claims in the background. And so on...

According to recent reports, official sources tell us that the European negotiator Olli Rehn presented a framework for a future compromise deal, which Croatia accepted, while Slovenia demands modifications.

Perhaps such diplomatic ping pong is a common practice in these kinds of negotiations, when every side pushes its chances as far as possible. The poisoning of the relationship mostly comes with sensationalist media, who are more likely to focus on simplified dramatic elements than to the voice of reason. In a typically propagandistic manner, both sides claim that they enjoy most of the European or even global support.

If for nothing else, most commentators on both sides agree that the climate over the Bay of Piran would be much calmer now, if certain dedicated people had negotiated the situation years ago, around a table with wine and prosciutto, away from the press.

The Slovenia Times has extensively reported on these issues in the past editions, so for this time, we have decided to skip passing these official information, mostly because it brings nothing new and also to refrain from commenting the situation ourselves, from the editorial position.

Instead, we asked for comments from a number of different people who in one way or another represent a side of this heated, perpetual dispute: a Slovene MEP speaking against Slovenian pressure on Croatia, a Croatian journalist, a social and a parliamentary party leader with even greater ambitions than the political majority, and an expert historian. Unfortunately, the largest opposition force in Slovenian parliament, as well as another resourceful MEP did not submit their views, despite their assurances that they would, days before the magazine went to press, most likely due to the pre-EU election fuss.

Well aware that these contributions, including some extreme views, may not represent a full picture, they still bring some additional pieces to the mosaic, which at least tell us about the proportions of this dispute.