"It will be tiring and may take some time, but the sale of treasury bills last week showed that it was still possible to [tap the market]. And when we look at the public debt, unemployment rate, etc. the numbers aren't that bad," Burkart assessed.

What is concerning, however, is that public debt rose quickly in recent years. "Also, for this year it appears very likely that the budget deficit will exceed 3% of GDP. Nevertheless, if Slovenia pushes ahead down the reform path and if it takes the required measures, I think it has a shot of beating the crisis on its own."

But the ambassador added that he did not have all the information at his disposal and that this was a question primarily for the Slovenian government, which will also be responsible for taking measures to ensure that aid would not be needed.

With Germany leading eurozone efforts to deal with the crisis, Burkart also touched on the outlook for the whole of the single currency area. He suggested that hard work will need to continue, with the main goal being good governance.

According to him, this will include privatisation, budget consolidation, promotion of growth and changes to the welfare system.

Saying that structural reforms are the priority, he said there was "not a single measure, a silver bullet...that would make everything right. There isn't and won't be such a measure."

"I believe the crisis will accompany us for a few years to come, but if we make real efforts I think we will put it behind us in a few years. Even economic experts are predicting that there will be a new economic boost in Europe in 2014, which will make things easier."

Meanwhile, Burkart welcomed the announcement by the Alenka Bratušek government of a new round of privatisation. "Privatisation is important, while it is also important to find the right investor...who is ready to make new investments in a company".

He pointed to the Bosch-Siemens investments in house appliance maker BSH, saying that the investments by the German company helped BSH grow from a small company. "This was not a gain only for Bosch-Siemens, but also for the Slovenian economy."

He also raised the need for a good privatisation strategy. "It must be determined what is to be privatised and what the state will keep...and to secure not only a good price but a good investor," he said.

Asked in what sectors German companies would be looking to invest, the ambassador has said that there is a general interest in insurance, telecommunications and energy. "But everything depends on the individual sale, conditions, prices."

The ambassador also praised bilateral relations, saying the countries had close ties across key areas of politics, economy, culture and science, as reaffirmed by Pahor's upcoming visit. "The good relations are traditional."