Prime Minister Janez Janša pledged that Slovenia would stay a strong partner in NATO as he held talks with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer at the sidelines of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly's session in Ljubljana on Tuesday. As Janša told a joint news conference after the meeting, Slovenia is committed to fulfiling its obligations in providing stability and security in the trans-Atlantic area together with NATO.
De Hoop Scheffer, who last visited Ljubljana in April last year, meanwhile said that Slovenia was a strong and reliable ally in NATO. He added that small countries played an important role within the alliance as well.
Janša was pleased that the NATO secretary general was visiting Slovenia on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of Slovenia's first free elections, which represented the beginning of the country's NATO membership bid.
He said that the majority of Slovenians voted in favour of the membership at a referendum, while the country's experience one year after the accession is positive.
Janša and De Hoop Scheffer also discussed the enlargement of the alliance towards the Western Balkans, which Janša said would contribute to the stability and peace in the region.
NATO has played a key role in ensuring stability in the Western Balkans, Janša said, adding that the alliance will have to continue performing this task for some time.
Permanent solution for the status of Kosovo, and EU and NATO membership prospects for the countries of the Western Balkans are of major importance for the region, the Slovenian prime minister suggested.
De Hoop Scheffer meanwhile said that a crucial period is starting for Kosovo and that the EU and NATO integration is a key recipe for ensuring security and stability of the region that is still burdened by problems.
The two officials also talked about Slovenia's presidency of the OSCE, notably the situation in Uzbekistan, and NATO activities in the Sudanese region of Darfur, in which Slovenia is willing to participate as a NATO member.
Asked to comment on the prospects of EU combat troops and future military cooperation between the EU and NATO in the light of the French "no" to the European constitution, Janša said that the French vote was bound to postpone "new steps envisaged in the constitution".
The prime minister was convinced, though, that the EU would find solutions for its common defence and security policy before the destiny of the constitutional treaty is known.
De Hoop Scheffer meanwhile suggested that NATO favours the establishment of EU combat troops as long as they provide for complementarity between the EU and NATO, and not produce duplication. He added that it is in NATO's interest that the EU assumes part of the responsibility for its defence.
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