The President of the Republic attends further bilateral meetings

New York, 24.9.2008  |  press release

Yesterday morning (local time) the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Danilo Türk, attended the opening of the general debate of the 63rd Session of the UN General Assembly. Afterwards, he had three bilateral meetings: he met one-on-one with the President of the Republic of Columbia, with the President of the Republic of Albania and with the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe. In the evening, Dr Danilo Türk attended a dinner for heads of delegations hosted by Mr Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Today, 24 September 2008, at 10.30 am (local time), Dr Danilo Türk will appear as a speaker in the general debate of the UN General Assembly.

During his meeting with the President of the Republic of Columbia, Mr Álvaro Uribe Vélez, the Slovenian President discussed in particular the situation in the Andean Community and the relations between the European Union and the Andean Community. Mr Álvaro Uribe Vélez expressed his gratitude to Dr Türk for Slovenia's contribution to a better understanding of the problems of hostages taken by guerrilla groups. The two presidents also discussed the efforts aimed at resolving Bolivia’s current problems.

Dr Türk and the President of the Republic of Albania, Mr Bamir Topi exchanged their views on the situation in South-Eastern Europe, with a special emphasis on developments in the situation in Kosovo. They expressed their belief that the situation in Kosovo was gradually stabilising and that further efforts were required in order to consolidate international relations and the status of Kosovo. Mr Bamir Topi presented to Dr Türk Albania's efforts to join NATO and favourably rated the progress made in achieving this target. He also extended an invitation to Dr Türk to pay an official visit to the Republic of Albania in 2009. Dr Danilo Türk and Mr Terry Davis, Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, devoted special attention to the situation in Georgia and to Slovenia's Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, which will take place from May to November 2009.