LJUBLJANA/CESKE BUCHLOVICE, July 4 (Hina) - Slovene Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel suggested at a meeting with his colleagues from Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia that their countries, which form a so-called
regional partnership initiated by Austria two years ago, establish special relations with the countries of the Western Balkans.
LJUBLJANA/CESKE BUCHLOVICE, July 4 (Hina) - Slovene Foreign
Minister Dimitrij Rupel suggested at a meeting with his colleagues
from Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia that
their countries, which form a so-called regional partnership
initiated by Austria two years ago, establish special relations
with the countries of the Western Balkans. #L#
The Slovene foreign ministry issued a statement saying that at the
meeting with his colleagues in Buchlovice in the Czech Republic
Rupel welcomed Croatia's application for membership in the
European Union and stressed that all countries in the region should
have European prospects if they met membership criteria.
Slovenia and the countries of the regional partnership should
intensify their cooperation with the Western Balkans, so the
process could develop as fast as possible, Rupel said.
The ministers agreed with Rupel's proposal that Slovenia start
preparations for a summit of the countries of the regional
partnership and the Western Balkans, which would be dedicated to
that goal, the ministry reported.
(hina) rml