Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel met the envoy of the Quartet on the Middle East, Tony Blair, in London on Monday to discuss the role that Slovenia could play in the Middle East peace process when it takes over the presidency of the EU next year.
In their first meeting after Blair, the former British prime minister, was named envoy, Rupel introduced the priorities of Slovenia's priorities EU presidency. Rupel said a number of events were planned to discuss inter-cultural dialogue, of which Blair said it could be very important for the Middle East peace process, sources in the Slovenian delegation told the press. Blair emphasised that the first half of 2008, when Slovenia will be presiding over the EU, will be of key importance for the Middle East peace process: a peace conference is planned for the end of November in Annapolis while in December, a donor's conference is to take place in Paris.
Blair reportedly stressed that the will to find a solution for the Middle East peace process exists. But he added that there was a lack of know-how on the Palestinian side on how to administer certain fields and here the EU could help.
He added that economy was another issue which may cause problems. Rupel is reported as having replied that Slovenia was ready to help with in this process as well.
Apart from meeting Blair, Rupel took part in a meeting of the Caucasus-Caspian Commission, in which experts alongside current and former members of government are drafting a document which is to provide technical and political solutions to improve the situation in the region.
On Tuesday, the last day of his two-day working visit, Rupel will meet his British counterpart David Miliband.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Prime Minister Janez Jansa is to embark on the first official visit of a Slovenian Prime Minister to the UK. He is expected to meet Queen Elizabeth II and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
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