The Slovenian parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee ratified on Monday a protocol on Croatia 's accession to NATO, easing the bilateral relations strained by border disputes.
The ratification was supported by 16 members of the committee and opposed by three, Xinhua reported, referring to the official Slovenian Press Agency.
The opposing votes were from two small opposition parties and an independent MP who feared that like the documents Croatia filed in its European Union accession talks, it could have sent documents to NATO that predetermine the disputed borders between Slovenia and Croatia.
The supporters believed that the ratification documents do not contain any contentious facts that could predetermine the disputed borders. On the contrary, it would have a positive impact on the bilateral relations strained by Slovenia's blocking of Croatia's EU accession negotiations in December.
Prime Minister Borut Pahor held the same view as he told lawmakers that Slovenia had no reasons to oppose Croatia's bid to join NATO at the summit in Bucharest in April 2008 and it did not have any reasons to do so now.
The ratification requires the backing of two-thirds of the lawmakers if it's to be endorsed by the parliament on Thursday. It stands a good chance to pass as both the ruling coalition and the main opposition Slovenian Democrats have thrown support.
