LJUBLJANA, May 7 (Hina) - Speaking at a lecture on Tuesday in honour of the start of "European Week" in Slovenia, Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel spoke about his country's expectations with regard to the expansion of the European
Union. He said that for countries about to access the EU, Europe represented a great chance for development but also a dilemma as regarded the preservation of their specific features and national identity.
LJUBLJANA, May 7 (Hina) - Speaking at a lecture on Tuesday in honour
of the start of "European Week" in Slovenia, Foreign Minister
Dimitrij Rupel spoke about his country's expectations with regard
to the expansion of the European Union. He said that for countries
about to access the EU, Europe represented a great chance for
development but also a dilemma as regarded the preservation of
their specific features and national identity. #L#
Rupel asked whether new EU members would have the same rights as
current, eminent member countries, and if their features and
differences would be taken into account.
"We see the EU as a multi-state and multinational organisation
which will welcome us with our own characteristics, amongst which
the most important are language, culture and national dignity",
said Rupel.
He stressed that in the past centuries, Slovenes saw their liberty
in "exclusiveness" from large systems and states. Now that view is
just the opposite, "integration, multinational decision-making
and co-operating with others," he said. Our history will be
realised through integration with other nations, he added.
(hina) sp sb