NO GOOD WILL COME ABOUT IN WAR-TORN LAND OF THE BALKANS BY ITS OWN VOLITION
Speech by the President of the Republic of Slovenia Milan Kucan at the Sarajevo Summit

Sarajevo (Bosnia and Hercegovina), 30 July 1999



Ladies and Gentlemen,

“We can no longer live together, never again!” This is what we hear today in Kosovo. It is a metaphor expressing the bitter reality of the war-torn land of the Balkans. We have gathered here to help people become able to live together again. And to move on from the curse of their own history. We have gathered here to confirm the common will of Europe and the Trans-Atlantic alliance, to come with all responsibility to the Balkans through the Stability Pact. For only in this way will the Balkans enter Europe of the 21st century. Stable and open borders, the adoption of European values and ways of life, work and development are the path leading to this goal, a goal common to all of Europe. Without a peaceful and stable Balkans our continent cannot itself be peaceful and secure.

Slovenia borders on an unstable region. Throughout this decade of conflict, Slovenia has observed that the Balkans cannot extricate itself alone from the bloody cycle, without the direct help of the whole of Europe. For this reason Slovenia welcomes the Stability Pact. Slovenia will work actively within it. And we regard this as our duty. As a Central European country, Slovenia is ready, alongside other countries close to the area of instability, such as Italy, Austria, Hungary, Greece and Turkey, to assume a special share of Europe’s responsibility for the democratisation and economic renewal of that area. Slovenia has also planned projects in this connection. And these projects, like the plans formulated by other participants of the Stability Pact, will only be effective if they form a part of joint and integrated planning. It is this kind of approach that can enhance the effectiveness of our common endeavours.

The idea of a certain special political and economic region of beneficiary countries and neighbouring donor countries would repeat the mistakes of history. The goals of the Pact have been set out. It remains for us to judge how far from these goals is each country for which the Pact is intended, and based on this judgement we have to ensure our concerted efforts, particularly in establishing basic human rights and the rule of law, economic renewal and development, market reforms and the involvement of enterprises from Southeastern Europe in global economic projects. The direct cooperation of aid beneficiaries amongst themselves without political and administrative barriers will be a step forward; as will be the cooperation of neighbouring donor countries with the beneficiaries in planning and carrying out specific projects. Slovenia is duty bound, as well as ready, to cooperate. Peace and development in Southeastern Europe are also in Slovenia’s interest.

The roots of the evil in the Balkans stretch far back into history. It is time now for Europe to bind itself together in a common consideration of the deeper causes of the tragedy in Southeastern Europe. This will provide us with a solid, common orientation for long-lasting solutions.

No good will come about in war-torn land of the Balkans by its own volition. And if the Sarajevo Summit is intended to be the harbinger of something new, then much hard work awaits us.