Czech EU presidency cancels Croatia talks

PRAGUE, Czech Republic, June 24 (UPI) -- The Czech EU presidency canceled talks on Croatia's accession to the European Union following the collapse of border talks with Slovenia, officials said.

The talks between the European Union and Croatia had been scheduled for Friday, the first of the six-month Czech presidency, which expires July 1.

Croatia and Slovenia, which already is an EU member, have been arguing about their land and sea borders ever since they became independent following the bloody disintegration of Yugoslavia in 1991.

EU diplomats apparently are sick of the issue, the EUobserver said.

Olli Rehn, EU enlargement commissioner, and officials of the incoming Swedish EU presidency have told Croatia and Slovenia to resolve the issue on their own, EUobserver said.

Swedish officials, who are taking over the leadership from the Czech Republic, said they do not plan to get involved in the 18-year-old dispute, Prague Radio reported.