In the government palace of the Russian Federation, known as the “White House”, the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Mikhail Kasyanov, hosted a working lunch for Prime Minister of Slovenia Dr. Janez Drnovšek and an accompanying delegation. The two government leaders used the occasion to cover a range of subjects from the area of bilateral relations, plus a number of other matters.

Bilateral relations
The two prime ministers first of all touched on economic cooperation between their respective countries. They agreed that major possibilities exist for increasing trade, which in a few years could reach over a billion US dollars in value. Prime Minister Dr. Janez Drnovšek underlined that there are several companies in Slovenia that have traditionally been active on the Russian market, and which remained loyal to it even during the financial crisis. Today, to the pleasure of both sides, economic development in Russia is getting back on track. Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Kasyanov expressed great interest in enhancing economic cooperation with Slovenia, and went on to point out in this context that in Russia they were thinking about plans for construction of a gas pipeline through Slovenia to northern Italy. The Slovene Prime Minister expressed considerable interest in this project, and undertook to study the possibility of intensified cooperation in the areas of petroleum processing, construction and other industrial sectors. The two leaders devoted a significant part of their talks to the issue of the clearing debt of the former Soviet Union towards the former SFR Yugoslavia. Prime Minister Drnovšek was in favour of an immediate solution which would be most useful for the further development of relations between the two countries. Of the possibilities for an immediate solution, he highlighted the option of capital investments in Russian companies and supplies of Russian products in which Slovenia shows an interest.
Russian Prime Minister Kasyanov expressed a willingness for such solutions. According to their data, the clearing debt of the former Soviet Union towards the former Yugoslavia supposedly amounts to some US$ 1.4 billion and a further US$ 200 million of as yet unconfirmed debt. The Russian Federation takes the view that it would be beneficial if the successor states to the former SFR Yugoslavia could agree at the earliest opportunity on the division of this debt, and in this context he mentioned as the most appropriate method the division according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) key. Prime Minister Drnovšek underlined that Slovenia backs a division according to this IMF key, and committed himself to the earliest possible resolving of this question in respect of the pertaining Slovene share. Russian Prime Minister Kasyanov concurred with this and proposed that the competent Slovene authorities liaise with the finance ministry of the Russian Federation and immediately initiate consultations on possible solutions.

Situation in South Eastern Europe
Russian Prime Minister Kasyanov was interested in the Slovene assessment of the current situation in the Republic of Macedonia and the region as a whole. Slovene Prime Minister Drnovšek stressed Macedonia is a key element of stability in the Balkans, and that Slovenia supports its sovereignty and territorial integrity. He expressed concern at the latest armed clashes provoked by Albanian extremists. He gave the opinion that it was necessary to seek a solution to the current complication by means of a dialogue with moderate Albanian parties in Macedonia. At the same time it is important for the international community not to acquiesce in any way with the actions of armed groups of extremists.

At the end of the exceptionally substantive talks, Slovene Prime Minister Janez Drnovšek expressed the hope that his visit would signify a new stimulus to the strengthening of relations between the two countries, and invited Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Kasyanov to visit Slovenia soon.