AUSTRIAN CHANCELLOR KLIMA VISITS PRESIDENT KUCAN

Ljubljana, 1 October 1997



The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Milan Kucan, today received the Federal Chancellor of Austria, Viktor Klima M.A., who arrived on a one-day visit of Slovenia. The two heads of state discussed the situation in Europe and current European perspectives, which of course involves Austro-Slovene relations. The two agreed that as a continent of peace and creative cooperation, Europe represented the one bright prospect for all European people and the best way of going beyond what has all too often been an inclement past. In the opinion of the two heads of state, it is worth striving towards such a Europe. If Austria and Slovenia can contribute anything towards bringing real and desired relations in European cooperation closer - be they in the economic, security, cultural, environmental or social spheres - through the resolving of open questions in bilateral relations, then they are duty bound to do so. The two gave a positive assessment of cooperation between their countries, with particular mention of the high level of mutual trust, which made it possible to speak openly about those areas that still hinder European cooperation. In this light the two also touched upon the nuclear power station at Krsko, the Slovene minority in Austria, realisation of the Treaty of Schengen and other salient issues.