Slovenia Willing to Take Ukrainians Wounded in Protests
Reporting to the committee about the situation in Ukraine, Erjavec said that the ministry would request funds from Slovenian companies doing business in Ukraine and in the region.
He moreover said that several other countries had expressed willingness to treat wounded Ukrainians, among them the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary and Poland.
Committee members underlined the need to strengthen Slovenia's role - as Russia's ally in the EU and NATO - in the launch of a dialogue with Russia.
Erjavec said that he would offer Slovenia's help in the launch of dialogue with Russia at the next EU foreign affairs ministerial if the need arises.
He added that there was no interest for such an initiative prior to the protests in Ukraine and that some Baltic and Scandinavian EU members still oppose dialogue with Russia.
The minister also warned that there was a rift in Ukraine on the question of whether to join the EU and that there was danger of the country breaking apart. "Slovenia's position is that the country must remain whole; this is also the position of the EU," said Erjavec.