ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER RUGGIERO RECEIVED BY PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC KUCAN

Ljubljana, 11 September 2001


The official visit to Slovenia of Italy's new foreign minister is confirmation of the very good and all-round developed relations between the two states, President Kucan said in talks with minister Renato Ruggiero. He also underlined the importance of Italy's support for Slovenia's accession to the EU and NATO, two of Slovenia's crucial foreign policy objectives defined as such already at the very birth of the country. The President reassured the minister that there is complete unity in this regard in Slovenian politics and that this commitment is stronger and older than any party agreements.

The President also expressed his expectation that, in the framework of good relations between the states, certain open issues will be resolved at a faster pace, particularly regarding the implementation of the Act on the protection of the Slovenian minority in Italy, including the financing of Slovenian minority institutions and the formation of an adequate parity committee as foreseen by that law. He also voiced his expectation to see the problem of the inhabitants of Jeremitisce near Gorizia resolved. President Kucan informed the minister that he had informed Italian President Ciampi of these problems in writing, proposing for him to receive representatives of the Slovenian minority for them to brief him on the issue directly.

The talks also stressed the opportunity Slovenia and Itlay share to jointly take an actively part in the activities of the international community for the stabilisation of the situation in the Balkans. The President reiterated that all European states have to assume responsibility for the political future of the Balkans. Due to the vicinity of the region and interests for the stabilisation of the situation in South East Europe, Slovenia and Italy could, in the President's view, undertake joint initiatives.