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Good Friends in the North

Slovenian Foreign Minister, Karl Erjavec, met his Austrian counterpart, Michael Spindelegger, in Vienna,confirming the excellent relationship between the two countries. The pair focused on the status of the Slovenian minority in Austria and bilateral cooperation.

"It is very important for me that I can greet my new colleague from Slovenia," Spindelegger told the press, adding that he discussed with Erjavec "both the status of the Slovenian minority in Austria and the German-speaking community in Slovenia". The Slovenian FM added that the main topics of the meeting were about the ways to continue the good and friendly relationship with Austria. "The relationship is very strong," Erjavec said. He noted that the talks touched on the proposal for the new Austrian law on national minorities. "We want no rights of our minority reduced, I'm an optimist and I believe that everything will turn out well." There was no talk about the provisions of the Austrian State Treaty on the protection of minorities but Erjavec said that it was completely clear that these provisions had to be kept in all relevant regulations adopted by Austria.

Counting on economic cooperation

Erjavec stressed that Austria was the third biggest trade partner of Slovenia, with bilateral trade standing at EUR 4bn and with 50% of foreign investment in Slovenia coming from Austria. "It is therefore very important to maintain the good relationship." According to Erjavec, Slovenia and Austria are planning a series of joint projects. "Slovenia is planning to construct a third pier at the Port of Koper, which is an important port for the Austrian economy also," he added. The Ministers also touched on bilateral cooperation within the EU and the situation in the region.

Joint interest in the Western Balkans

According to Spindelegger, the two countries want to boost their cooperation within the According to Spindelegger, the two countries want to boost their cooperation within the bloc to "establish a strong axis in Europe". "We agreed that we have to continue with close cooperation in the Western Balkans. We have to make a joint effort to enhance the European future of the Western Balkans. This is important for both countries," said the Austrian FM. Erjavec added that cooperation between Austria and Slovenia was of key importance for the stability of the Western Balkans, which he labelled as a "very sensitive area". The EU is focusing on stabilising the euro, financial troubles and economic growth and "sometimes we forget that we have many things to sort out in Southeast Europe as well". In light of promoting the progress of SE Europe, Erjavec and Spindelegger are planning a joint visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina.

 

Good Friends in the West

Foreign Minister Karl Erjavec has also met with his Italian counterpart Giulio Terzi di Sant'Agata on as part of his introductory visits to neighbouring countries. Meeting in Rome, the ministers confirmed good bilateral relations but did not discuss open issues. "This was not the purpose of the visit. But I have pointed to the burning issues surrounding Primorski dnevnik. Minister Terzi said he would look into the matter," Erjavec told the press, referring to the Slovenian-language daily which is facing serious budget cuts as Italy implements austerity measures.

But he did present the issues of the long-term funding for the Slovenian minority, the gas terminals planned by Italy and opposed by Slovenia, and the return of Slovenian works of art taken to Italy during WWII. However, the meeting was dominated by topical European and other international issues and ways the two countries could strengthen ties. The ministers highlighted economic cooperation, as Italy is Slovenia's second biggest trade partner and in the last year trade between the countries has been rising, the Slovenian Foreign Ministry said. They agreed to continue cooperation in several projects in the region and welcomed the process of democratisation in North Africa. They underlined the importance of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative, where Slovenia is taking over the presidency. Erjavec also briefed his counterpart on the cuts the Slovenian government is planning within the supplementary budget, as Italy has already introduced cost-cutting measures.

 

Good Friends in the South

Foreign Minister, Karl Erjavec and his Croatian counterpart, Vesna Pusić, agreed at a meeting in Zagreb, that the Slovenian and Croatian Governments should meet to discuss all open issues. Pusić expressed hope that the meeting will take place before the summer.

Good atmosphere, old issues

Erjavec said that the governments should take advantage of the positive atmosphere in Slovenian-Croatian relations. Pusić believes the governments should meet to discuss the issues on which the countries have divergent opinions, such as the storage of nuclear waste from the Krško power plant and the issue of savings in the defunct LB Bank. Erjavec reiterated that the debt of LB Bank should be tackled as part of the succession agreement. Erjavec also said that he and Pusić agreed, prior to the meeting, that it would be good if the Slovenian and Croatian Interior Ministers met to discuss recent incidents in Piran Bay, involving fishing in the area where the border between the countries has not yet been set. Erjavec added that the Justice and Finance Ministers of the two countries should also meet over the issue of the defunct LB bank.

European friendship "good" for tourism

The Ministers also touched on the bilateral Slovenian-Croatian Commission dealing with open issues. Erjavec said the task force should start addressing the issues of development and cooperation in energy, transport and the drawing of EU funds. Two other important topics are the implementation of the border arbitration agreement and Slovenia's ratification of the Croatian EU Accession Treaty, according to Pusić. Erjavec said that, as Foreign Minister, he would personally like to see the National Assembly ratify Croatia's EU Accession Treaty as soon as possible. "I believe we could consider this after the meeting of the two governments," he said. According to Erjavec, the meeting of the two governments should be held before the summer holidays. "That would be a very positive signal for all Slovenian tourists,".
Prior to the meeting with Pusić, Erjavec was received by the Croatian Prime Minister, Zoran Milanović, who also expressed the wish that the relationship between Slovenia and Croatia is enhanced. In this context, the pair discussed the proposal for a meeting of the two countries' governments. Erjavec said Milanović had no objection to the meeting taking place in Slovenia. The Slovenian FM started the visit by meeting Croatian President, Ivo Josipović, who used the opportunity to thank Slovenia for its support of Croatia's EU accession efforts. He expressed hope that the National Assembly will ratify the country's accession treaty within an "appropriate time frame", Josipović's office said. Erjavec concluded his visit, the first official visit of a Slovenian Foreign Minister to the country since 2004, by meeting the Speaker of the Croatian Sabor, Boris Šprem and representatives of the Slovenian Cultural Association in Zagreb.