I decided to hold a brief press conference following the session of the government dealing with the preparations for the summit meeting between US President Bush and Russian President Putin. In view of what is in every way an extremely important event I would like to offer a few of my own thoughts and opinions, and of course give you the opportunity to ask any questions you might have.

BOBO

To begin with, this meeting is a major opportunity for Slovenia to enhance its visibility on the world map, and secondly, although perhaps even more importantly, I think that this serves as recognition of Slovenia for its development thus far. It is recognition of Slovenia's stability, its role in international politics, and also recognition of the way we have been conducting our foreign policy over the last few years, perhaps over the entire decade. Slovenia has always been committed to a policy of dialogue, it has actively engaged in the resolving of international crisis issues, and has cooperated in this with the international community. In this particular case it is of course important that over the past decade we have developed what were traditionally good relations with the USA. Little by little these relations have grown close and friendly. This is borne out by the numerous meetings on all levels, and of course by President Clinton’s visit. Indeed I had a series of meetings with him in the White House. In recent months we have also seriously intensified our relations with Russia. After decades of these relations being narrowed down chiefly to the economic sphere, in recent months we have enhanced the political dialogue with Russia, and I believe that a key element in the selection of Slovenia as a host of such a meeting is the fact that we are acceptable for both sides. This does not involve some coincidence, as we hear in some circles. This involves primarily the fact that our policies are such that we are acceptable both for the American and the Russian side. I believe that this is recognition of our political course.

I would not, of course, wish to involve our candidacy for Nato in this visit. That is naturally independent of the event in hand. But I would underline that irrespective of Slovenia’s candidacy for membership in Nato, this candidacy is also nothing controversial for Russia, such that it has never become an issue. In my talks with President Putin, it was never raised even as a question, let alone a problem. This candidacy for the Western alliance therefore remains, and Slovenia sees the importance of the transatlantic alliance in Nato as lying in the future, without ever having viewed Nato as something that might be directed against Russia. We believe that such thinking is a consequence of some kind of “inertia”, which derives from the Cold War. This is the view, which I myself have also defended at various international forums, whereby both the European Union and the Nato alliance must offer the prospect of gradual association and probably also over the longer term even inclusion of Russia. This is therefore not an alliance that is directed against Russia, and Russia simply needs to be given the prospect that in some foreseeable time when it is appropriately transformed it can prepare and also be incorporated into such cooperation. This is the only way for us to ensure European stability and peace in the longer term. If we look at what the real purpose of these two institutions is – both the European Union and Nato – we can see that it lies precisely in preventing those conflicts that have dragged out the whole of European history, and in this Russia has always played its part. For this reason it is all the more significant for us that such an important meeting between the two presidents is being held right here in Slovenia. This is therefore recognition of such a political course, and involves the first meeting of the two presidents in a somewhat more challenging international environment than previously, including more complicated mutual relations between the USA and Russia.

I hope that this meeting will be successful. It is important enough that this meeting is taking place, for it means that there will be renewed dialogue between the USA and Russia, and this can only have a positive influence on stability and peace in the world.

BOBO

Today the government dealt with the organizational aspects of the meeting, as well as with the framework of its substance. We are aware that this involves a very demanding project, and that we will need to prepare very well for it. We do have a fair amount of organizational experience from certain major visits and conferences, but this event will no doubt overshadow everything to date. Of course we will need to ensure and coordinate a great many components, including organization, protocol, security and the media. We anticipate an extraordinary media response around the world. In short, this will be a very demanding assignment. For this reason the Slovenian government has decided to take a properly serious approach to this project and to its organization. We have appointed an organizing committee, which will be headed by interior minister Dr Rado Bohinc, and his deputy will be the head of my own office, Rudi Gabrovec, with the committee also including representatives of all the ministries that will be cooperating on the project. There is not a lot of time left before June 16th. Today is May 21st, but I am convinced that we will succeed in carrying out this project efficiently. We will need to coordinate the requirements and interests of both sides, and the project therefore has additional dimensions that will of course be more difficult to deal with than those of ordinary international visits.

On this occasion I also expect to hold bilateral talks with both the one president and the other. This will of course be an opportunity for the further enhancing of our bilateral relations, which are already on a very good footing. In the time ahead, as well as that behind us, Slovenia will be and has been involved in some very intense international activity. During this time we expect a series of other visits, starting with the visit by the Spanish prime minister, then the prime ministers of the Czech Republic, Portugal and the Netherlands, the head of the European Commission Romano Prodi and the German Chancellor. All these visits will follow one after another in Slovenia over the next month. And I have only listed those visits for which I am host, aside from other visits on the level of heads of state and foreign ministers. So we are talking about highly important activities in the future, too. I believe that in recent times Slovenia has gained a great deal in terms of international “visibility”. And here I should of course add our intensive activities in relations with the European Union, as well as the ongoing activities in relation to all our neighbors, where I believe that we have effected some positive progress. Thank you.