THE OFFICIAL VISIT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES THE HONORABLE WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON TO LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA, 21 - 22 JUNE 1999
Statement to the Press by the President of the Republic of Slovenia Milan Kucan on the Conclusion of the Visit
(complete transcript)

Ljubljana, Brnik Airport, 22 June 1999



Ladies and Gentlemen,

You know the saying that in a small town there is much talk and in a large town there is much going on. Well, yesterday in Ljubljana there was both much talk and much going on.

The visit of US president Bill Clinton coincided with an important coming together of international events. He evaluated the role of Slovenia in transition processes, in changes in Europe and, especially, in the quest for solutions to the crisis in the Balkans.

The visit reinforced our self-confidence and confirmed that the decisions taken by Slovenia over the past ten years, especially those taken since independence, have been correct. It confirmed friendly relations and cooperation between Slovenia and the United States forged during our struggle to receive confirmation of the right to self-determination, to win international recognition for our state, and to join the United Nations, in which we have enjoyed the full understanding and support of the United States. The president's visit was also a recognition of the road Slovenia embarked upon ten years ago in demonstrating, by the stand it took, by its internal development and by its orientation, that it differed from other republics of the former Yugoslavia, as well as a recognition of the road it has since pursued.

The visit was also a confirmation of Slovenia's credibility as a partner of the United States, not only in questions concerning the Balkans and transition processes in Central and South-Eastern Europe but also in questions of current concern to the world in general, especially in light of the fact that Slovenia is a reliable and responsible member of the Security Council. Within this context there was much discussion about Iraq and what stand the Security Council should take on solving the crisis there.

We can say that the visit has opened up a new era in our relations with the United States. It is an era of strategic partnership, and not only in matters concerning the stabilisation of the Balkans, the postwar situation in Kosovo and at the beginning of the implementation of the Stability Pact, in which Slovenia desires to play an active role. Slovenia wishes to be one of the factors in the South-East European reconstruction project. It wishes to host two round tables. One of them, and I consider it particularly important, would be devoted to the strengthening of democracy and human rights in that region and, especially, to minority rights, where Slovenia has historical experience, high legislative standards and good practice.

As concerns Balkan affairs, we are both agreed that Slovenia's view of the Balkans is the view of a country adhering to the traditional values shaped in Central Europe, from Poland to the Adriatic. It is not an insider's view but a view through and based on the values which I have just mentioned. In this respect Slovenia has an important advantage because of its seventy years of existence in a state the largest part of whose territory was in the Balkans. Slovenia has the experience, the historical and current knowledge of those parts, the knowledge of the people and of the historical roots of conflicts, and its own opinion on how the historical roots of conflicts may be removed.

Another reason for saying that our relations are entering a new era is President Clinton's statement in Congress Square that we must build a new Europe free of antagonisms between countries, united, democratic and peaceful, and that he believes that Slovenia can play a leading role in that effort, in which it will enjoy the help and support of the United States.

There are three important messages from this visit. First, the message addressed directly from Slovenia to South-Eastern Europe that every country is free to decide its own future. If it builds its future on the principles of democracy, human rights, the free market and openness, it may count on the support and understanding of the international community and the US in particular. Within the context of this message it is important to note the visit of the Montenegrin president Milo Djukanovic and his meetings and talks yesterday in Slovenia. It is proof that it is possible, within one state and the same constitutional order, to take the path to democracy, the rule of human rights, a market economy and openness.

The second message is that it is the future that matters. President Clinton addressed this message to young people in particular, to the happy faces he saw gathered yesterday in the rain in Congress Square. He said that "what we have seen in the buildings in Ljubljana is the past. What I see in the young people in the square is the future."

In connection with this, President Djukanovic told President Clinton that because of the regime which Milosevic had introduced in Yugoslavia the young people of Montenegro had lost ten years of their life and were not prepared to risk losing a further ten.

The third message is that the confrontation over the Kosovo crisis has indicated that a new chapter in international relations is opening. It may mark the beginning of a new international law based on the precedence and prevalence of human dignity and fundamental rights. No longer will it be possible systematically to violate fundamental human rights under the screen of state sovereignty and the sovereign management of internal affairs. The path towards making a new order into prevailing practice and principle in international relations is long, and will call for a reform of the United Nations.

It is a significant fact that President Clinton visited Slovenia following important events in Cologne, the G-7 or G-8 summit meeting, and the American-French, American-German and American-Russian summits. The issues addressed in these meetings are of paramount importance, and the stands adopted carry important messages for the future of relations throughout the world, Europe and the Balkans, as well as for the future of Slovenia.

The talks with President Clinton were quite frank. The talks, in which Secretary of State Albright and Security Advisor Berger also took part, demonstrated that small countries which are active and have their own views, ideas and initiatives do have a place and a role in international life.

In summing up the event, one can say that the chain of efforts towards new relations in the world, based on human dignity and human rights, democracy, an open economy and cooperation, is only as strong as its weakest link. Slovenia may be one of the smallest links in that chain but it is by no means the weakest. Economically and politically much greater and much more influential countries are weaker links than Slovenia in that chain and those efforts.


ANSWERS TO JOURNALISTS' QUESTIONS

Question
Can you tell us a little more about what you discussed with Clinton and Djukanovic?

MILAN KUCAN
Naturally, our talks were about the situation in Yugoslavia after the end of the NATO campaign, i.e. after Milosevic accepted NATO conditions and the stands taken by the G-7 countries. We examined whether the situation heralds an optimistic future, if the campaign has weakened President Milosevic's power and influence in Yugoslavia, and if the position and influence of Montenegro in the Yugoslav federation is being consolidated. That was the main topic of the talks. President Clinton countenanced President Djukanovic's stance and his perseverance with that stance. He told him that the international community recognised the difference between the policy of Belgrade and the position of Podgorica, and that giving aid to the economic development of Montenegro is one of the ways to underline that difference and make it obvious to the population of the FRY as well.

Question
A Clinton associate told Reuters that President Clinton seemed prepared to help Slovenia in its integration into western institutions. I would like to know how, specifically. Clinton said yesterday that Slovenia was a bridge between Europe, the EU and south-eastern Europe. Does that mean that Slovenia ought to take a more active role in solving the Yugoslav crisis? And about the round tables you mentioned - what would they be like, where and when would they take place, and who would chair them?

MILAN KUCAN
The fact that President Clinton came to Slovenia in such turbulent times and after these important events is, in itself, a message. A message to the world, and therefore to the world of capital and to visitors, that Slovenia is a stable and safe country, that it pays to bring business and projects to Slovenia and to visit it. He said that yesterday in Congress Square.

The fact that he is prepared to support Slovenia in its integration into European institutions is neither a secret nor is it news. As concerns NATO, I think that things are more or less clear. As concerns the EU, the fate and the decision are more or less in our own hands. I refer again to what President Clinton said yesterday about a Europe without antagonisms between countries, a united, democratic and peaceful Europe in the building of which Slovenia can take a leading role and will be supported by the United States. This does not mean that Slovenia will play the leading role in efforts towards a new Europe but that it is a country in Europe's transition area which was once part of Yugoslavia and can play the leading role in such efforts by countries in transition.

As for the Stability Pact and Slovenia possibly becoming a bridge between Europe and that area, we must wait for the conference in Sarajevo, which will mark the beginning of the implementation of the Pact and in which the decision on round tables will be taken. The round tables are not envisaged as an academic debate on human rights but as forums in which to develop - in association with politicians, professionals and theorists from these countries and Western countries - projects for the implementation of individual spheres of democratic political order in the countries which have emerged in the territory of the former Yugoslavia and have been involved in tragic conflicts.

I have already spoken about the round table on human rights and minorities. Another proposal is for a round table on small business, in which Slovenia has good experience and which represents a shortcut in transitions from a centrally-planned to a market economy. I don't know what the final decisions will be. The position of the organiser of the round tables must not involve diplomacy alone. It must involve a common, identifiable national interest. Any kind of thinking that all these activities are driving us back to the Balkans demonstrates a lack of self-confidence and, we might say, a guilty conscience. This is holding us back from getting away from the Balkans rather than preventing us from getting closer to the Balkans. Balkanism at home, in our political relations and in our lives is the best way for us to be considered Balkan.

Question
Your relations with President Clinton were very cordial. What were you explaining to him on his arrival and departure? I think you were showing him the mountains. Did you show him Triglav?

MILAN KUCAN
Yes, it was easier today - yesterday it was covered by clouds.

In the present-day practice of international relations, where no one possesses the complete truth and the truth emerges gradually from the mosaic of different views and pieces of information, people as engaged as President Clinton keep in their memory certain events which create a particular image. Today the whole world knows what we knew about the policy personified by Milosevic ten years ago. At that time we were alone and had virtually no understanding soul to talk to. I have had several meetings with President Clinton. The first was in the White House when the first NATO intervention was contemplated, followed by the events at Srebrenica and its aftermath. I said then that violence in that region - both political and physical - was like water that keeps brimming over until someone puts a stop to it. He remembers it. He also made reference to it in New York, when he informed me that the United States had cancelled visa requirements for Slovene tourists travelling to the States. He met Prime Minister Drnovsek several times and from all these meetings he formed a positive picture of Slovenia. The positive picture was the reason why he came to Slovenia.

Except for the weather, the visit passed in a very agreeable and auspicious atmosphere. Thanks to the weather, however, we were given a promise - which might well come true - that the President and his wife would again come to this beautiful country of which they now have had a glimpse. As Mount Triglav features in our coat of arms, I explained to President Clinton the origin of that symbol.