FM Dimitrij Rupel met Austrian Ambassador Valentin Inzko on Friday to discuss the situation of the Slovenian minority in Austria.
Rupel reminded Inzko of the numerous complaints that Slovenia has sent to the Austrian government with regard to this issue, according to the Foreign Ministry.
Rupel told the ambassador that he had no intention of interfering with Austria's election campaign nor with local politics in Carinthia, even if, in Rupel's view, the province might be trying to pick a fight with the Slovenian state.
Rupel added, however, that Austria, as a member of the EU and a protector of the rights of the Slovenian minority as called for by relevant international agreements, was still obliged to uphold European standards.
The press release by the ministry also says that given the recent aggravation of the situation - mostly due to factors within Austria - this internal but also bilateral issue could become an international matter.
While praising the progress made in relations between the two countries, Rupel noted that the Slovenian public is increasingly perceiving Austria's lack of progress in implementing Slovenian minority rights and the announced bilingual signs referendum as potentially harmful to Slovenian-Austrian relations.
Rupel in Inzko concluded the meeting by expressing hope that Slovenia's EU membership had ushered in a period of opportunities to strengthen neighbourly relations.
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