Ljubljana, 06 June (STA) - The agenda for the meeting between the Russian and American presidents, Vladimir Putin and George Bush, scheduled to take place on June 16 in Slovenia, has yet to be finalized, but in the words of the Russian ambassador to Slovenia, Tigran Karakhanov, an important place in the talks will definitely be occupied by the issue of strategic stability and global security, and the related preservation of the ABM treaty of 1972, which has, he underlines, served as a foundation for strategic stability in the world for 30 years. "We anticipate being able to arrive at some changes on this issue," Karakhanov told STA. The meeting could also be used to open up the subject of enlarging the NATO alliance. On this, Karakhanov reiterated the negative Russian position towards this possibility. While Russia does not have any veto over the decision to enlarge, it does believe that its interests should be taken into account in the decision-making on enlargement, he stressed.

Karakhanov expressed pleasure that the meeting between presidents Putin and Bush will be taking place in Ljubljana. "This is a great honor for any ambassador," he noted, and added his conviction that his American counterpart in Ljubljana, Ms Nancy Ely-Raphel, feels the same. He also pointed out that in the preparations for the meeting he was working very closely with his American colleague, and that they were both seeking to establish the most favorable possible conditions for holding the meeting. Here Karakhanov praised the work of the organizing committee, headed by Slovenia's interior minister Rado Bohinc. But a significant portion of the preparations is still ahead, he noted.

The selection of Slovenia as the location for the first meeting between presidents Putin and Bush is according to Karakhanov unequivocal recognition of the achievements made by Slovene foreign policy and represents recognition of the efforts made by Slovenia, which has in ten years of independence become one of the best-standing countries of Central Europe. The selection of Slovenia was a joint decision by Moscow and Washington and by presidents Putin and Bush. From the Russian point of view it is important that recently Russian-Slovene relations have been developing well in all areas. The meetings between President Putin and Slovene Prime Minister Janez Drnovšek in February in St Anton, Austria and in March in Moscow have certainly contributed to this. Bilateral economic relations have also been developing well: trade between Slovenia and Russia last year totaled around US$ 500 million, with Putin and Drnovšek setting the goal of increasing this to the billion dollar mark.

Russia holds Slovenia in great esteem, noted Karakhanov, and quoted the words of President Putin from St Anton: "Russia ascribes great importance to the development of good relations with great Slovenia." The greatness of the country is of course not tied to the number of its inhabitants or the size of its territory, but to the greatness of the people and their deeds, stressed the Russian ambassador. "This meeting will certainly take Slovenia to the summit of history. It will likely happen that in fifteen or twenty years students around the world will get the exam question, where was the historical meeting upon which depended the fate of strategic stability in the world for the coming decades. I am convinced that they will answer proudly that it was held on 16 June 2001 in Slovenia," said Karakhanov.

The Russian ambassador welcomed the recent statement of Prime Minister Janez Drnovšek that Russia should have the long-term possibility of membership in the European Union and NATO. In his words, Russia ascribes great importance to cooperation with Europe, one of its biggest trading partners, and recently major progress has been achieved in this area, both in the political and economic spheres. Karakhanov also pointed out that recently there had been a warming in relations between Russia and NATO, and his belief was that these good relations would continue. "But this cooperation depends to a large extent on what kind of policy NATO will conduct towards Russia in the future and if in this it will take account of Russia's interests," said Karakhanov. He recalled that on several occasions President Putin had indicated the possibility of Russia becoming a member of NATO, to which the West's response had been particularly luke-warm. The possibility of Russian membership of the Western alliance had already been mentioned by former Russian President Boris Yeltsin, but under the condition that NATO changed from a military-political organization to a political organization.

Karakhanov expressed the hope that during his visit to Slovenia, Russian President Putin would also meet with the Slovene leadership, which would contribute to the further development of positive relations between the two countries. Here he recalled the series of bilateral contacts this year: Slovenia had been visited by president of the Russian Duma, Genady Seleznyov, president of the Court of Audit, Sergei Stepashin, and governor of Moscow region, Boris Gromov, while Moscow had been visited by Slovenia's interior and justice ministers, Rado Bohinc and Ivo Bizjak. At the beginning of July foreign minister Dimitrij Rupel will travel to Moscow, and at the end of July Slovenia will be visited by the head of the department for foreign affairs of the Russian orthodox church, Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad Kiril, who will take part in the solemnities marking the 85th anniversary of the Russian chapel at the mountain pass of Vršič.

In addition to this, on 1 September Slovenia will host the soccer World Cup qualifying return match between Slovenia and Russia. "I hope for both the Slovene and Russian fans that the two teams will take the first two places in their group and thereby qualify for the World Cup finals," Karakhanov told STA.