RUSSIAN-AMERICAN SUMMIT IN LJUBLJANA - RECOGNITION FOR SLOVENIA

Ljubljana, 20 May 2001


"The two Presidents' decision to meet in Ljubljana is certainly an important decision for Slovenia, too. I firmly believe that this is also recognition of Slovenia's endeavours for peace and relieving tensions in the world, particularly in South-East Europe, in the Balkan region," underlined President of the Republic Milan Kucan in reply to journalists' questions on the Bush-Putin meeting in Ljubljana after State Department announced the meeting to be held in Slovenia.

"It is recognition for all that Slovenia has done as member of the Security Council as well as for all that it has done on its path of far-reaching economic, political and social reforms. Regardless of the topics to be discussed at this important meeting I am convinced and would very much like to see that this will contribute to an alleviation of the tensions in the world, leading to enhanced co-operation between the two strongest and most influential countries in the world," added President Kucan.

The President of the Republic estimates that this constitutes an opportunity for Slovenia to present its achievements to the World, "thus in a way thanking also its best of friends in the US who certainly contributed in their own way to this decision."

President Kucan also added that "the decision to hold the meeting between the US and Russian Presidents in Ljubljana did not come as a surprise since the US authorities inquired both with my office and the office of the Slovenian Prime Minister whether Slovenia would be prepared to host this important meeting. The answer was positive, of course."