PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC RECEIVES NATO PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY DELEGATION

Ljubljana, 2 September 2002


President of the Republic, Milan Kucan, received a delegation of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia today. The delegation is visiting Slovenia on invitation of the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr Borut Pahor.

In a globalised, interdependent world the positive values of the Euro-American civilisation cannot be pursued individually, without a concerted effort. They can only be pursued through cooperation in alliances, stated the President, adding that if only possible these values needed to be strengthened within the existing international institutions, one of which is also NATO. He also added that NATO membership had been an inherent objective for Slovenia ever since independence. That independence was achieved not only by looking back at the reasons for the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia, but also by looking forward and by pursuing Slovenia's participation in modern integration processes, which are imperative in a global, interdependent world.

President Kucan presented Slovenia's activities in preparation for full-fledged NATO membership and supported further NATO enlargement to Europe's south-east, thus expanding the area of peace, security and stability in Europe.