Rupel and Czech Host Discuss EU, Western Balkans, Kosovo

Prague, 16 November

Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel and his Czech counterpart Karel Schwarzenberg discussed international topics, especially those related to Slovenia and the Czech Republic's stints as EU presiding countries, as Rupel paid an official visit to Prague on Friday.

The Czech Republic will take over the presidency of the EU from France, which will follow Slovenia's. Thus Rupel and Schwarzenberg pointed to a number of possibilities for cooperation, a diplomat in the Slovenian delegation told the press.
The two countries plan to cooperate in some of the more general fields, such as climate change and the Lisbon strategy, as well on topical international issues, including Kosovo and the Western Balkans.
Issues which could emerge during Slovenia's presidency can be expected to continue developing at least until the Czech Republic takes over, the source in the delegation also told the press.
As regards the Western Balkans, Schwarzenberg and Rupel called for strengthening intercultural dialogue, the EU's unity and a joint agreement on how the EU is to approach "the very complex problems concerning the Western Balkans". The ministers also agreed on the need for practical measures, such as making it easier for people from the Western Balkans to obtain visas to travel to Western Europe. Slovenia and the Czech Republic meanwhile have "exactly the same views" when it comes to Kosovo.
Relations between the two countries are considered very good, with both sides making a commitment in Prague for a further strengthening of business cooperation.
Rupel, who spoke at length about the Western Balkans and the priorities of Slovenia's EU presidency at the Czech Foreign Ministry, was also scheduled to meet today Parliamentary Speaker Miroslav Vlcek and the president of the upper chamber of the Czech parliament Petr Pithart.

Rupel and Czech Host Discuss EU, Western Balkans, Kosovo

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