MEETING OF PRESIDENTS CLINTON AND KUCAN
Slovenia is the only former socialist country for which the USA has abolished visa requirements for tourist and business travel
From a transcript of the press conference given on 25 September 1997 in Ljubljana by President of the Republic Milan Kucan on his return from the USA, where on 21 September 1997 he met with US President Bill Clinton in New York

Ljubljana, 25 September 1997



Milan Kucan: "My recent meeting with US President Bill Clinton represents a success for Slovenia's diplomatic effort and for Slovenia as a whole. We have become an interesting discussion partner for the United States. Indeed I am convinced that for a country such as Slovenia, in its relations with big countries the main concern is how we can be of interest to these countries. And how we can gain their attention. Not in any sensationalist way, but by being successful and having something to say about the things that interest these countries. It was with this expectation that we arrived at our discussions, and I think that much credit for this is due both to our outgoing ambassador in Washington Dr Petric and to the US ambassador in Ljubljana Mr Jackovich. Our discussions focused on three topics.

"1. Bilateral relations were assessed as being excellent, with an encouraging trend of further development. In this context President Clinton informed me of the decision to abolish visa requirements for citizens of the Republic of Slovenia entering the United States - this covers tourist and business travel for up to 90 days. This was conveyed in such a way as to express an extremely high level of regard for Slovenia. This represents a recognition of Slovenia, the Slovene state and moreover, as I said in New York, a recognition of the responsibility and reliability of Slovenia's citizens. We are all aware that the fundamental criteria here are that there is no abuse of permits to travel to the USA, that there is no illegal emigration and that there is no abuse of passports and visas. And however effective and good national policies might be, such abuse cannot be prevented if we do not foster a proper culture and relationship towards this issue among ordinary citizens. It was stressed in particular that Slovenia is the only former socialist country to have been accorded this favourable status, and it is worth noting that this was linked to the conviction that this will open Slovenia yet further to foreign, and particularly American, capital, and will promote not just the flow of people but also the flow of business in both directions. I believe that it would be right for Slovenia to be very pleased with this success, and to enjoy it as a common success for us all.

"2. The other topic was linked to NATO. The message is as follows: in their demanding deliberations, neither NATO nor the USA were able at the present moment to accommodate an expansion by more than three countries. This is a historic step, recognised as such in Slovenia, too. And this involves a process which is continuing. Slovenia was among the most credible candidates in the very first round, and remains the most or at least one of the most credible candidates for the future. Slovenia has earned this credibility through everything it has done so far in its internal development, in the position it has gained in the world and also through the efforts it has made in building its defensive capability, including its own armed forces.

"3. The most important part of our discussion related to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Of course the USA has a very strong presence there. Dayton is in fact for the moment the only realistic project for bringing peace and resolving the conflict. In implementing this project, support is being sought for four priority tasks. Establishing peace, in other words eliminating aggression and points of conflict. Establishing properly functioning structures of authority along the lines of the Dayton Agreement; this should also cover the local elections that have just finished. The handing over and trying of war criminals and the earliest possible return of refugees, with the elimination of barriers to their return. And we spoke particularly of the possibility of a US withdrawal. I was asked for my opinion, and I duly gave my view that in circumstances where vital points of the Dayton Agreement have not yet been fulfilled, we cannot begin to think about such a withdrawal, since there is no clear alternative. Indeed the alternative is renewed armed conflict and war."