LJUBLJANA, Feb 10 (Hina) - Slovene President Janez Drnovsek has called on constituents to vote for entry to the EU and NATO at upcoming referendums as the EU ensures "economic prospects" and NATO an efficient national defence and
stability from "the unstable Balkans".
LJUBLJANA, Feb 10 (Hina) - Slovene President Janez Drnovsek has
called on constituents to vote for entry to the EU and NATO at
upcoming referendums as the EU ensures "economic prospects" and
NATO an efficient national defence and stability from "the unstable
Balkans". #L#
"If the referendums fail and if Slovenia isn't in those
organisations, then we will objectively find ourselves in an
unstable part of the world, near the unstable Balkans, and we will
have to wait for a new chance for at least ten years or more,"
Drnovsek said in an interview broadcast on state television on
Sunday.
Citing one reason to join NATO, which part of the Slovene public and
non-governmental organisations oppose, he said neutrality could
not be an option and that membership in the alliance was cheaper
than building one's own efficient defence system.
Drnovsek denied media speculation that the United States expected
Slovenia to be more active in connection with the Iraqi crisis.
"The U.S. doesn't expect that Slovene troops participate in
military operations. We are expected to participate in
peacekeeping operations, like in Bosnia and Herzegovina, perhaps
in demining operations and in the medical corps. There are no
expectations that we militarily participate in operations, but in
reconstruction."
Drnovsek added this was similar to what Slovenia did in "Southeast
Europe".
Admission to the European Union and NATO could give Slovenia a role
that would surpass its size, "similarly to Ireland or Luxembourg,"
he said.
(hina) ha sb