(20 Apr 2012) Ljubljana, Slovenia - 19 April 2012
1. Close of sausage being cut
2. SOUNDBITE (Slovenian) Janez Bogataj, food expert and university professor:
"Kranjska sausage is made of the best-quality pork meat, bacon, the best, with added garlic and pepper, and that''s all."
3. Mid of sausages on plate
4. SOUNDBITE (Slovenian) Franc Jezersek, restaurant owner:
"Kranjska sausage comes from the Kranj region and there''s no doubt about who can and must protect that kind of food. But the question is about what level of protection would be implemented."
5. Close pan of sausages
Klagenfurt, Austria - 19 April 2012
6. Fountain and street in centre of town
7. Pan of window of butcher''s shop
8. SOUNDBITE (German) Johannes Rotter, butcher:
"Krainer sausage is a traditional product, not only in here and Slovenia, but also in the broader region. It has been made for a long time and the name has been used for a long time."
9. Close pan of sausages on display in shop
10. SOUNDBITE (German) Johannes Rotter, butcher:
"I find it sad that we are discussing this issue. In today''s Europe, discussions like this should not even take place."
Ljubljana, Slovenia - 20 April 2012
11. SOUNDBITE (Slovenian) Franc Bogovic, Slovenian agriculture minister:
"We conclude that all the arguments are on our side and we expect the protection of the Kranjska sausage by the European Commission."
Ljubljana, Slovenia - 19 April 2012
12. Close of sausage
13. SOUNDBITE (Slovenian) Janez Bogataj, food expert and university professor:
"If there will be further discussions among experts, there will be no problems. The problems will come when politicians are involved and that could extend problems in the future."
14. Close of Bogataj leafing through book about Kranjska sausages
STORYLINE:
Slovenia and Austria are gearing up for a diplomatic battle over a delicacy that both countries claim as their own - a spicy pork sausage.
The Kranjska klobasa in Slovenia and the Krainerwurst in Austria have been enjoyed for centuries in the two neighbouring nations.
An application by Slovenia to European Union (EU) authorities for exclusive use of the name has left the Austrian government spitting mad.
Slovenia wants the Kranjska sausage - named after the country''s northern region bordering Austria - to be given special Protected Geographical Indication status by the EU, like Champagne in France, Parmesan in Italy or Melton Mowbray pork pies in the United Kingdom.
"All the arguments are on our side," says Slovenia''s Agriculture and Environment Minister Franc Bogovic. "We expect the protection of the Kranjska sausage by the European Commission."
If the two countries cannot settle the dispute within the next few months, the Commission will have to make the ruling.
When it does, only the sausage that wins can legally be called either a Kranjska or a Krainer.
The Slovenes insist that the culinary specialty, made of minced pork and seasoned with garlic and pepper, originated on their territory in the 19th century when the tiny Alpine state was part of the Austro-Hungarian empire.
Austrians say there''s no way they will change the name for their standard or the cheese-filled version of the sausage, called a Kaesekrainer, that is highly popular on the country''s iconic sausage stands.
"Krainer sausage is a traditional product, not only in here and Slovenia, but also in the broader region," says Johannes Rotter, a butcher in the Austrian town of Klagenfurt.
"I find it sad that we are discussing this issue. In today''s Europe, discussions like this should not even take place."
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