The parliament's foreign policy committee on Friday took a decision in which the MPs voiced the expectation that the new Austrian government would put bilingual signs in the province of Carinthia on its agenda in line with Article 7 of the Austrian State Treaty and rulings of the Constitutional Court.
The committee assessed that delays in the implementation of the rights of the Slovenian minority in the province could hamper the strengthening of good relations and bilateral cooperation. The statement also endorses the government's efforts regarding the assertion of the minority's interests in Austria.
The decision, which was taken behind closed doors, furthermore urges the government and the Foreign Ministry to continue with activities that will efficiently protect the interests and ensure the full implementation of the minority's rights in Austria.
The decision was made at a closed part of the committee session that was dedicated to Slovenia's activities regarding the notification of its succession to the Austrian State Treaty.
Asked whether the fact that the item was discussed behind closed doors meant that Slovenia was changing its position on the notification, Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel said that no decision had been taken yet.
"My opinion is that under the current conditions Slovenia is already indisputably a protector of the interests of the Slovenian minority. With the apparatus that we have we can achieve everything we need to, so such notification would not be necessary," Rupel said.
However, if the committee or the parliament reach a different conclusion, "we will do it the way they decide to", Rupel explained.
Jozef Jerovsek, the chair of the committee, did not wish to comment in great detail. He only said that "the positions are very close to how they have been."
Rupel also pointed out that the situation in relations with Austria has changed after the 1 October general elections. Whatever was said in the election campaign was probably meant for the election campaign, he added.
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