Italian Prime Minister D'Alema in Slovenia

Italian Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema arrived in Slovenia on Thursday, 10 December. At Brdo near Kranj, Prime Minister D'Alema held talks with his host, Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Drnovsek and with Slovenian President Milan Kucan.

Drnovsek and D'Alema focused on economic co-operation between Slovenia and Italy, especially in traffic, as well as on protection of minorities in both countries. Slovenia is a friendly country with which Italy wants to develop co-operation and an even closer partnership; at the same time Italy supports Slovenia's full integration into the EU and NATO, said D'Alema. Italian Prime Minister stressed that his government attributed great importance to the Slovenian minority, which in his opinion had been neglected in comparison to other minorities in Italy. He added the Italian government urged the adoption of the law on protection of the Slovenian minority in Italy.

Prime Minister Drnovsek expressed his satisfaction that positive changes in many bilateral issues had been achieved. He also expressed hope that the meeting would additionally encourage ministries of both countries to strengthen the co-operation. "Prime Minister D'Alema's visit is very important to us and confirms a high level of political, economic and other relations between the countries. We are glad the visit took place soon after the appointment of the Italian Prime Minister and shortly before the EU summit in Vienna where important European topics will be discussed, especially the Slovenian candidacy for the EU," Drnovsek stressed.

Italian Prime Minister expressed his belief that "all problems arising from the past, either regarding the situation of the Slovenian minority in Italy and the Italian minority in Slovenia, or regarding the Italians who left Slovenia after the war, can be solved on the basis of signed agreements, in a friendly spirit and without nationalistic tensions". As the STA learnt, Drnovsek reminded D'Alema Italy could start using the funds Slovenia allocated to the fiduciary account at the Dresdner Bank in Luxembourg in accordance with the Rome agreement as a compensation for the nationalised property of Italians on the territory of the present-day Slovenia.

Drnovsek and D'Alema also discussed the implementing of the so called Solana compromise as a part of the Europe Accord regarding the rights of foreigners to purchase immovable in Slovenia D'Alema estimated the compromise was a good solution which Italy would respect. At the same time he stressed the new Italian government would continue the work started by his predecessor Romano Prodi. D'Alema thanked Slovenia for its role in consolidation of peace and stability on the Balkans, especially for its contribution in the Alba mission in Albania.

The prime ministers also talked about co-operation in transport, particularly about the European corridor No. 5, about co-operation in the construction of the Ljubljana-Trieste railway as well as about co-operation between the ports of Koper and Trieste. They also discussed the Italian assistance to the construction of Slovenian motorways.

Slovenian President Milan Kucan also received D'Alema. They discussed bilateral relations, issues regarding the EU and its enlargement and other international questions. They expressed hope that such meetings would become permanent in the light of good bilateral co-operation. Kucan and D'Alema also expressed the opinion that the adoption of the law on protection of the Slovenian minority in Italy should be accelerated.

Italy is a valuable economic and political partner of Slovenia; Ljubljana sees special significance in Italy's support to Slovenia's accession to the European Union and NATO. Discussions between Ljubljana and Rome have been focusing on the status of the Slovenian minority in Italy, together with the law on the protection of the minority, which is the procedure in the constitutional commission of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, as well as economic relations between both countries. Italy is namely the second most important foreign trade partner of Slovenia, right after Germany.

Slovenia's exports to Italy amounted to US$ 850 million in the first nine months of this year, recording a decline of 7.6 percent in a year-on-year comparison. Imports stood at US$ 1.24 billion, marking an increase of 7.7 percent from last year.

Source: Slovene Press Agency STA