Some International Responses to the Proposed Summit in Slovenia

(from Slovenia Weekly, 5 June 2001, vol. 8)

In recent times, all of the world media outlets and press agencies have reported on the meeting of presidents Bush and Putin in Slovenia, mostly writing about the satisfaction of Slovenian politicians and the media, and asking why Ljubljana was chosen as the venue. Here are some examples:

  • The Washington Post cites Powell's statement that Ljubljana was chosen because of its hospitality and since it suits the schedules of both leaders. Slovenia, once a Yugoslav republic, provides a symbolic background for the meeting as it is one of the countries normally mentioned as a candidate for NATO membership, and is also high on the list of countries to be accepted to the EU.

  • The New York Times says that the place of the meeting in a tiny state which used to be part of Yugoslavia is symbolically significant, as Slovenia is the top candidate to join NATO.

  • CNN says that the meeting will be in Slovenia, a former Yugoslav republic which has not had any ethnic-based conflicts like Croatia, Bosnia and Serbia, and that the discussion will certainly be very productive.

  • FAZ commented that Slovenia received the news of the presidents meeting there with great enthusiasm, and that accommodating the delegations and the over 1,000 journalists expected is a big task for the organisers, to which Ljubljana can respond by pointing to the excellent organisation of the visit by president Clinton in 1999.

  • Der Standard says the main reason for Ljubljana being chosen is the good relations of Prime Minister Drnovšek with both presidents. It also says that ten years after independence and, on the threshold of the EU, Slovenia is a unique Central European country, expecting to be awarded for its achievement. For many Slovenians, the meeting is additional confirmation of its success story.

  • Die Presse writes that this is due recognition of Slovenia's foreign and internal affairs policies.

  • In an extensive article, Vjesnik mentions that the summit of the two most powerful forces in the world will give a special weight to celebrations of the 10th anniversary of the Slovenian state.

  • Russian papers wrote on 21 May that the American side sees a certain symbolism in the meeting place, which is however not pleasant for Russia. According to certain American political analysts, Slovenia was chosen because it is a serious candidate for NATO membership, and because Ljubljana is an appropriate location for Bush to announce the Organisation's extension to the East.

  • Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung cited on 21 May the statements of high Slovenian officials that they do not expect any major problems in organising the visit, as a great deal of similar experience was already gained in 1999 during the visit of the then US president Bill Clinton.

  • The Croatian daily newspaper Vjesnik wrote on 22 May that the decision for the summit to be held in Ljubljana is certainly a great foreign policy and diplomacy success for the country that is preparing itself for celebrations to mark the 10th anniversary of its statehood. The paper also says that a sense of pride is prevailing in the Slovenian public as Washington and Moscow chose Slovenia as the venue for the first ever Bush - Putin meeting.