FM Pleased with Relations with Neighbouring Countries

Ljubljana, 20 November

Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel is optimistic about future relations with Croatia, Austria and Italy. He said on Monday that he expected positive changes regarding open issues with Croatia and the situation of the Slovenian minorities in Austria and Italy.

Rupel believes that the decision of the European Court of Human Rights, which threw out a case brought by three Croatian savers of the defunct Slovenian bank LB against Slovenia, is an important point in the Slovenia-Croatia relations.
The minister sees another reason for confidence about a new beginning in the relations with Croatia in the Slovenian legislation on reciprocity in purchasing real estate.
Currently Croatia and the European Commission are negotiating on the issue of fisheries, which includes the Slovenia-Croatia agreement on border traffic and cooperation (SOPS) and the ecological and fishery zone.
Rupel was confident that Croatia would not unilaterally introduce the regime for EU countries, after excluding them from it. He added that Slovenia would not be able to give its consent on the issue until the countries come to an agreement.
Rupel also presented Slovenia's preparations for the EU presidency in the first half of 2008. He highlighted the establishment of the Centre for European Perspective and announced that he and his counterparts from Germany and Portugal would officially present on 5 and 6 December the programme of the countries' successive stints as EU presidents, beginning on 1 January 2007 with Germany's presidency.
It has been a busy year for Rupel; he held 84 bilateral meetings and participated in 42 international conferences. He believes that bilateral relations with several countries, especially with Russia, countries in the Southeastern Asia and the Gulf have strengthened.
Replying to a journalist's question, Rupel also pointed out that Slovenia would not change its policy towards Iraq because it did not have any special policy towards this country. Slovenia's presence in Iraq is a part of a NATO mission, therefore the policy depends on NATO, Rupel explained.

FM Pleased with Relations with Neighbouring Countries

More articles from this issue:

Archive