Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt called on Croatia and Slovenia to tone down their rhetoric, pointing out that it would be in the interest of both countries if the border issue is solved as soon as possible, Croatian Novi List newspaper said on July 21 2009.
 
The newspaper, as quoted by Bulgarian news agency Focus, said that Bildt had told the European Parliament that the Balkans are a place where one should be cautious about rhetoric.
 
People believe in what they say and this could lead to certain consequences, Bildt said.
 
He said that it was important to start pre-accession talks with Croatia, which is of great importance both to the country and the region, as well as to Slovenia, as none of the countries wishes to stay isolated from the European Union, the newspaper said
 
Croatia's progress on the road to the EU has been blocked by the border dispute.
 
Slovenia, which is a member of the EU, has been standing in the way of Croatia’s aspirations to join the bloc, pending resolution of the dispute.
 
"In Croatia and Slovenia, I think the rhetoric went far too high on both sides," Bildt said.
 
The previous EU Presidency, held by the Czech Republic, cancelled mediation talks and sent a message that the two countries should solve the problem between them, on a bilateral basis.
 
Balkan Insight said that when the EU decided to leave it up to the two countries to resolve their differences, Bildt warned that the failure of the process might have "consequences for both sides".
 
He sent a similar message in his July 21 speech: "I hope a period of reflection can lead to them starting to solve the issue in the way the EU wants them to do," Bildt said.
 
Bildt said that everyone has an interest in pursuing, advancing and accelerating Croatia's integration in the EU. "But this is important for Slovenia as well [...] No nation wants to see itself isolated in the EU," he said.