You Be the Arbiter: Whose Sea is This?

[VetLegion]

Below the radar of mainstream media a story is unfolding. A story of passion, intrigue and international maritime law as specified in the UN convention on the law of the sea.

This is the region of the world I want to bring to your attention:



And this is the dispute:



Basically, Slovenia is trying to get access to the international waters via own territorial waters. She is threatening to "take the ball and go home" if she is not given this.

I am asking you to apply your expirience in these matters, as well as your wisdom and sense of justice, to tell me which of the two countries is right, Croatia or Slovenia? What is in your opinion the just solution for this dispute?

[duke o' york]

Let them eat hake.

[Koyaanisqatsi]

I didn't know Slovenia even had a ball to take home.

[VetLegion]

They are a member of both EU and NATO and they're vetoing our access to both if we don't give up some territory. Blackmail, more or less.

[Maniac]

This is so 19th century. Just give the sea to the EU, problem solved for everyone.

Seriously, why do they want that sea? It's not like you're asking a toll for ships to pass. Is there lots of fish there?

[Ben Kenobi]

The solution is to invade Umag. Problem solved.

[VetLegion]

We couldn't charge a fee for ships passing even if we wanted to. International law guarantees free access to all ports regardles of where they are. For example, Turkey can't ban Russian ships from moving to and from Black Sea.

Slovenia wants to get access to fish, and gas or oil if it is ever found in the area.

[VetLegion]

The solution is to invade Umag. Problem solved.

Neither side would fare well in a military confrontation. Both armies are crap at the moment. The terrain is hilly, difficult to advance through. Slovenia could take Umag though, via a surprise attack. We have no military nearby, nobody's expecting a fight.

[OzzyKP]

If Slovenia wants access to international waters, why not just declare that chunk of sea international. Then they can access it.

[Maniac]

We couldn't charge a fee for ships passing even if we wanted to. International law guarantees free access to all ports regardles of where they are. For example, Turkey can't ban Russian ships from moving to and from Black Sea.

[VetLegion]

If Slovenia wants access to international waters, why not just declare that chunk of sea international. Then they can access it.

Good point. Actually that was one of the suggestions.

[Heresson]

Capodistria? the greek hero could have some slovene blood in him?

Anyway, I understand Slovenia, but they have bad luck to have such crappy access to the sea.

Making these waters international would be the best, but I guess that would be a big show of goodwill from Croatia, they don't have to do it.

[Winston]

Damn, doesn't Croatia look like a banana?!

The poll needs some kind of a banana Split option.

[ColdWizard]

Slovenia is clearly right. Just look at the where the land border is. If anything the sea demarcation should be farther south.

[Lefty Scaevola]

That sea is much too good for any Balkan scum or for Italians. So now it belongs to me.