OFFICIAL VISIT BY MR OSCAR LUIGI SCALFARO, PRESIDENT OF ITALY
Joint press conference by President Kucan and President Scalfaro
Statement by the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Milan Kucan

Ljubljana, Presidential palace, 7 July 1997



Mr President, esteemed guests from Italy, ladies and gentlemen of the press, welcome.
I would first like to say that it is a great honour for me to receive the president of the Italian Republic, His Excellency Mr Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, on his official visit to Ljubljana. I believe that this is a fine opportunity for us to show the respect and affection that His Excellency enjoys in Slovenia, and a chance for me to express my personal respect.

I would like to state that with his great experience of politics and life in general and with his moral authority President Scalfaro was a source of sound advice and consolation to me in times when our relations were not as they are today: very promising, extremely friendly and built on trust. As relations were strained not due to any views of future relations, but due to the past, which, as President Scalfaro rightly pointed out, it is impossible to alter, we must learn to live with it, however unpleasant it was for our two nations.

Today's relations between Italy and Slovenia are delineated by the common conviction that Europe has a historical opportunity to change a continent of conflicts and divisions into a continent of cooperation capable of being a foundation for the coming civilisation of humanity. Also based on this conviction is the feeling of collective responsibility, that it is necessary to do everything to make sure Europe does not miss this opportunity, that it is necessary to apply the principles and values of European civilisation in relations among European countries and peoples, and that in the interest of all Italians and Slovenes these principles should be applied in European relations. Within this framework it has been found that it is difficult to define which pieces in our relationship are bilateral questions and which are questions concerning the wider European or world environment. Everything in our relations that we can possible undertake productively on the basis of mutual respect and reciprocal consideration of interests is also in the interest of peace and cooperation in Europe.

From this high evaluation of bilateral relations, in which the legal infrastructure of our relationship is practically complete, all that is missing are two fundamental agreements on investments and avoidance of double taxation. Many agreements have been concluded, and as unusual as it might seem, I must mention the agreement on military cooperation signed last year by former minister Kacin and Minister Andreatto. This agreement covers armaments, which until recently in our history have always entailed war and violence, but now entail peace and cooperation. A consequence of this was the joint involvement of Italy and Slovenia in the peace keeping operation and democratic processes in Albania.

Italian support for Slovenia's efforts concerning Nato and the EU, its vital long-term interests, is well-known. Equally known is Italy's understanding and our gratitude for it. This is not merely a question of interests: this also involves questions of principle and justice. Here Italy has stood out in its attitudes and position, and this position is very much appreciated in Slovenia. We know however that the principal tasks and burdens are upon us as we try to overcome the legal and political obstacles in Slovenia itself, which is now on the road to removing them. In particular it is important to clearly denote public opinion inside Slovenia so that it will be recognised outside for its pro-European and pro-Atlantic stance.

With regard to minorities, President Scalfaro feels, as I do, that minorities must have an active and increasing role in our bilateral relations, and that the condition for having this role is that all conditions for respect for minorities are created in the country in which they live and that conditions for having self-respect are created. This requires the active engagement of leading politicians, the active and speedy resolution of issues affecting the lives of minorities, and among other things concerning us also allowing the Italian minority in Slovenia normal and productive communication not just with the mother country but also with Croatia, where most of the Italian minority in the former Yugoslavia live.

It was jointly recognised in our discussions that the key value for which we must strive in our relations and also in European relations today is trust: trust must overcome the burden of history. Understandably, this cannot be achieved overnight, and this well-prepared and considered visit by President Scalfaro cannot change everything in an instant. It is however a personal demonstration of the attitude and bearing that can serve as a example for the behaviour of our compatriots, our civil associations and of course our government bodies. I am firmly convinced that this example, if followed in our relations and in European relations overall, could make a great contribution to Europe's efforts to ensure that the historic opportunity it faces, and which involves our relations and those between other countries, is not missed. After all, the endeavours of politics and today's visit are, for people in both Italy and Slovenia, aimed at breaking through the barriers and the idea that our relations have been closed through the decades, and allowing these people to be what they really are: members of two nations who live either side of a border they share, which has marked them, but has also marked them with a great deal of common history and culture. Thank you.