Mrs Nancy Halliday Ely-Raphel, Ambassador of the United States of America to Slovenia, is currently very busy preparing for mid-June's US-Russian summit which will take place in Slovenia. Despite this, she found some time for an interview for our magazine. In the interview, we not only talk about the importance of the upcoming meeting for the world and particularly for Slovenia but also about the under-exploited potential left in US/Slovenian co-operation. This particularly includes trade and investment, the Ambassador says.

SW: Why do you think Slovenia was chosen as the location for the first-ever meeting between US and Russian Presidents Bush and Putin?

Mrs Halliday Ely-Raphel: Slovenia enjoys excellent relations with both Russia and the United States. Moreover, Slovenia has worked hard to "export" its stability and economic prosperity to the nations of Southeast Europe. I believe this visit is in part a recognition of Slovenia's positive role in Southeast Europe.

SW: What is the importance of this meeting for Slovenia as the host country?

Mrs Halliday Ely-Raphel: This will be a moment when Slovenia is the focus of attention for the entire world. These moments are a once in a lifetime opportunity. I know your Government will make the most of hosting this historic first meeting of President Bush and President Putin. The Summit in Slovenia will make history.

SW: The visit of US President George W. Bush to Slovenia is clearly of great importance for bolstering bilateral relations between the US and Slovenia. In your opinion, what will this visit mean to both countries?

Mrs Halliday Ely-Raphel: For President Bush, it will be his introduction to Slovenia, and will remain one of the impressions he takes back to America from his first visit to Europe as President of the United States. For Slovenia, it will again focus world attention on your country, as was the case with President Clinton's visit in 1999.

SW: Despite US/Slovenian relations being well developed in all fields, in which areas do you think under-exploited potential still exists?

Mrs Halliday Ely-Raphel: Trade and investment. As good as relations are between our countries, the amount of goods and services we purchase from each other remains very small at roughly USD 590M in total.
Despite Slovenia's relatively well-developed economy, the major foreign direct investments from the United States have been limited to Goodyear-Sava and Western Wireless International. Enthusiasm for trade and investment between the United States and Slovenia exists, but is hampered by bureaucratic and administrative barriers, prejudices against foreign economic influence, and in certain sectors even a semblance of protectionism.

SW: How can this potential be best realised? In what ways?

Mrs Halliday Ely-Raphel: In order to encourage greater foreign investment, Slovenia needs to remove administrative barriers. Early this year, the Government of Slovenia created an anti-bureaucratic committee tasked with identifying and removing barriers to trade and investment. Recently, this committee met for the first time to consider approaches to make land available for development, and came with proposals for concrete solutions. Your Government should continue to support the Trade and Investment Promotion Office in its efforts. Finally, Slovenia must also take care to remember its close ties with the United States as it negotiates with the European Union.

SW: Your Embassy is currently busy preparing for the upcoming summit. What are your main activities in this area and how are you working together with the Slovenian institutions?

Mrs Halliday Ely-Raphel: Just as in 1999, we will co-operate closely with our professional colleagues in State Protocol, MFA, the Ministry of the Interior, a number of other ministries and the media. We all have the benefit of the positive experience of the Clinton visit.

SW: In 1999, Slovenia was visited by the then US President Clinton. What was your experience with organisation of that event? Did Slovenia do its tasks well?

Mrs Halliday Ely-Raphel: When President Clinton's advance team visited Slovenia prior to his visit in June 1999, they commented to me that Slovenia was one of the easiest places in which to work that they had yet experienced. The professionalism of their Slovenian counterparts, Slovenia's excellent telecommunications infrastructure, the friendliness and extraordinary English-language skills of the Slovenian people - these were all key factors in making President Clinton's visit such a great success.

SW: Do you think Slovenia has changed much in the two years since the visit of former US President Clinton to Slovenia? If so - in what direction?

Mrs Halliday Ely-Raphel: What strikes me is the much higher profile which the prospect of membership in the European Union has with the people of Slovenia - the public at large seems to be much more focused on that set of issues.
What we would like to see is the same level of public discourse regarding Slovenia's bid for NATO membership, as well. You have shown a high degree of determination to be the best possible applicant for the EU.
I'd like to see the same dedication in your effort to become a NATO member. You've done some good work, but much remains to be done, especially before the Fall 2002 Prague Summit.

SW: Do you think Slovenia is becoming more recognisable on the world stage because it has been visited by several important world statesmen in the last few years?

Mrs Halliday Ely-Raphel: Absolutely. In the wake of President Clinton's visit in 1999, major articles were published on Slovenia in the New York Times and Los Angeles Times; this has had a clear effect on Slovenia's recognition level with the American public, and on the number of official Americans who visit Slovenia. With the global media interest in the Bush-Putin summit, I can only imagine how high Slovenia's profile will rise in the next few months. The trick is to take full advantage of this increased attention - to strike while the iron is hot.