Drnovsek said after the talks the idea of a symbolic meeting to overcome historical problems in the past century was positive, but added that it called for thorough preparations so as to avert new antagonisms and confrontations.
Both Drnovsek and D'Alema supported cooperation among states in the northern Adriatic and the integration of western Balkan states into the European Union.
D'Alema also met Prime Minister Janez Jansa. In talks with Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, he proposed strategic cooperation in economic, energy, traffic and fishing projects in the northern Adriatic, which he said could develop in an Adriatic partnership within the EU.
Slovene analysts said that D'Alema's visit, the first on this level in more than five years, would give new impetus to relations, but also noted that Rome and Ljubljana continue to have different positions on some important bilateral issues.
Slovene media described as surprising D'Alema's position that Italy's current centre-left government would settle trilaterally the issue of damages to Italians who left Istria and Dalmatia after World War Two, given Slovenia considers this issue concluded and has proposed to Italy to withdraw funds which Slovenia has reserved in a foreign bank for that purpose.
D'Alema said this was a sensitive and complex issue that should be considered together with Croatia.