Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic

Croatia will refuse to implement an international arbitration ruling awarding Slovenia key access to international waters, in a long-running maritime and territorial dispute between the two countries, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said Thursday.

"Today's arbitration decision for Croatia is a decision which is not obliging us in any way.... nor do we intend to implement its content," Plenkovic told reporters commenting on the ruling by international judges in The Hague.