Latvian Foreign Minister Visits Slovenia

Latvian Foreign Minister Sandra Kalniete arrived in Slovenia on Monday, 19 January. She met Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, Prime Minister Rop, Speaker of Parliament Borut Pahor and President Janez Drnovsek -

The talks the Latvian foreign minister has held in Slovenia were dominated by European issues, while also touching on Iraq, relations between the EU and Russia, and the situation in Belarus and Georgia. The latter two topics are of interest for Slovenia mainly in light of its 2005 presidency of the European Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). According to Minister Kalniete, Latvia is in favour of stronger Transatlantic ties. The country is satisfied with Slovenia's readiness to continue, within the OSCE, the path laid out already by the Dutch presidency.

Slovenia and Latvia have excellent relations, but they would like to improve their economic cooperation. This was the message Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel and his Latvian counterpart conveyed to the press as they came out of their meeting.

The other message that came out of the press conference following the meeting of both foreign ministers is that their countries share the view that the intergovernmental conference on the future make-up of the EU should wrap up its work as soon as possible, and that they are both against a two-tier Europe.

A two-speed Europe would be a bad alternative to the European constitution and integration of all European countries, which is why "we'll advocate a one-tier united Europe", Minister Rupel explained the view shared by his Latvian counterpart.

"The relations between the countries are excellent, free from open issues," the Slovenian Foreign Minister noted. As an example of good cultural cooperation between both nations he quoted Verdi's "Aida", a joint project of the Ljubljana and Riga opera houses and the Slovenian arts centre of Cankarjev dom which will premiere at Cankarjev dom tonight. Rupel believes that the project symbolises "the will for close cultural cooperation".

Slovenian President Janez Drnovsek received the Latvian Foreign Minister Sandra Kalniete at Brdo pri Kranju for a meeting that saw the two officials hand out mutual compliments for the progress made by their countries, both of whom are scheduled to join the EU in May, since independence.

Kalniete praised Slovenia for the progress made over the last ten years, saying that it has been an example for Latvia. She underscored the special bond that exists between the two countries as a result of their history and role in the enlarged EU, the president's office said.

Drnovsek returned the compliment, pointing to the progress made by this Baltic country in the recent years, something that was recently confirmed by the World Economic Forum's competitiveness index.

Kalniete explained that Slovenia is viewed by Latvia as a friendly state, which can be counted on in crucial moments. She proposed that political ties be strengthened in future with a greater exchange of experiences from their respective regions. The Estonian minister was convinced that this cooperation could be particularly useful in light of Slovenia's presidency of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) next year.

Drnovsek took the opportunity to present the current situation in southeastern Europe, saying that the region still needs to be given attention by the international community. He stressed the need for the EU to strengthen its role both in SE Europe and eastern Europe as a whole.

The pair also touched on issues dealing with the future of the EU. Kalniete stressed that she would like to see prompt progress in the deadlock over the European constitution. The minister also underscored the importance that Latvia ascribes to good trans-Atlantic relations.

Following 1 May, when Latvia, like Slovenia, becomes a full-fledged member of the EU, the country will have to consider the options afforded by membership, and especially how to become competitive within the Union, the Latvian minister pointed out. Asked to comment on her being proposed as a European commissioner candidate by Latvian Prime Minister Einars Repse, Kalniete said this is a big challenge and that the decision could be attributed to her pro-European orientation.

Slovenian-Latvian trade is relatively modest given the potential. Slovenia's exports in 2002 amounted to EUR 12.7m, up 20 percent over 2001, while the imports totalled EUR 3.4m, an 18.2-percent increase over 2001. In the January-to-November 2003 period, exports to Latvia stood at EUR 13.5m, up 19.5 percent year-on-year, and imports totalled EUR 3m, down 6.2 percent year-on-year. The leading Slovenian export item to Latvia is medicine, as both Slovenia's pharmaceutical companies, Krka and Lek, have an office there.

Source: Slovene Press Agency STA