President Pahor at the meeting of parliamentary speakers from the Western Balkans: "The enlargement process to the Western Balkans is increasingly becoming a peace and security issue."

The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, today attended the meeting of parliamentary speakers from the Western Balkans, held under the title "The Role of Parliaments in Rebuilding Trust in the EU Enlargement Process".

In addressing the participants, President Pahor stressed that the responsibility for the enlargement process was mutual, falling both on the Western Balkans and the European Union, and that the enlargement process was increasingly becoming a peace and security issue.


Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA

He noted that he had met with the leaders of the Western Balkan countries several times this year, i.e. during the preparations for the Brdo–Brijuni Process leaders’ meeting and at the meeting itself in May, then with some of the Western Balkans leaders on the margins of the Bled Strategic Forum and, most recently, at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

He emphasised that Slovenia had always been and remained a supporter of the EU enlargement process to the Western Balkans and that it is also committed to strengthening multilateral cooperation in the Western Balkans.

President Pahor expressed his sincere wish that the forthcoming EU–Western Balkans Summit, which is to be held in Slovenia at the beginning of October, will give new impetus to the enlargement process, but he also reminded both sides of their mutual responsibility: the EU must maintain the enlargement to the Western Balkans as a priority, while the Western Balkan countries must carry out the necessary reforms for their development.

President Pahor said that it was up to Western Balkan leaders whether they would seek what they have in common through dialogue or keep emphasising the differences that have abounded in this part of Europe throughout history: "I ask that we, as responsible leaders, think about what we ourselves can do to keep this part of Europe peaceful and secure."

He stressed that the European Union had been founded on reconciliation between nations divided by the Second World War and had evolved by always trying to build on things held in common and learning to live with differences. "This is also what the Western Balkans should do," concluded President Pahor, "and Slovenia wishes to be a true partner and friend in this respect."


Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA