THE CELEBRATORY DINNER ON OFFICIAL VISIT TO THE REPUBLIC OF UKRAINE
Toast by the President of the Republic of Slovenia Milan Kucan
Official visit to Ukraine

Kiev (Ukraine), 11 July 2002


Esteemed President Kuchma,
Esteemed Mrs Kuchma,
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Mr President, permit me first of all to thank you most warmly for the invitation and warm reception accorded to my wife and myself and our entourage in your beautiful country. I see in this a sincere desire, will and readiness to step up and expand in all areas the development of relations between Ukraine and Slovenia. I am delighted with this, because Slovenia also wishes to increase cooperation with your country. We see in your country more than a large and attractive market; for us Ukraine is without doubt a highly desired and important partner in many projects now taking shape in Slovenia. For this reason there are also numerous Slovenian businesspeople here today.

In Slovenia we appreciate greatly the early decision by Ukraine to recognise the Slovenian state. Such actions, which enable nations to exercise their natural right to self-determination, without doubt in a special way bind together peoples, nations and states even more. They also provide a good basis for understanding different historical environments and traditions, and are at the same time a consequence of such understanding. Diversity in such relations signifies advantage and wealth. And such relations and such mutual understanding are needed today by the entire world, in which we are all a part of the whole and in which the security and harmonious development of the whole and of each one of us depend on the actions of all of us.

Globalisation is today an established fact. It is the duty of all of us that we shape it to accommodate all the diversity of the modern world, and in this way to accommodate all of humankind, with greater social justice and greater hope for all to whom the advantages of globalisation remain inaccessible. I believe that, in these major issues, Ukraine and Slovenia will maintain a positive dialogue and be good partners.

The influence of European countries on the resolving of global issues depends on the future of Europe. On a global level it is only a united Europe, in which both Ukraine and Slovenia will have their own space and voice, that can play the part made possible for it by Europe's economic might and cultural influence. The path to a united Europe is complicated and will probably still be long, but there is no other good option. A united Europe is also a realistic possibility, as long as it can formulate its common and united voice from everything that springs from its soil, and as long as it is able to respect this, as well.

The European Union is the solid core of the future united Europe, so I regard its enlargement as secure progress towards the construction of a common home for all European states. Slovenia now meets the final conditions, and expects in just over two years to become a full and equal member. In preparation for membership in the European Union, Slovenia has acquired much experience. And we are prepared to share this with your country, if you so desire, because we are convinced that Ukraine's place is within a united Europe, and that without you there can be no united Europe.

The security of Europe and the global world is still a key issue, although we may hope that the great European wars and bloc divisions are now consigned to history. Yet there are emerging new threats to peace, and they are no smaller than the earlier threats. These threats must be answered today. Slovenia sees its security and also its prospects for cooperation in the politics of global security as a member of NATO, as the organisation is today, and as an organisation that will read the signs of the times and adapt to them. In this regard, partnership with Russia is a major herald of the new security politics. In a similar way, a special partnership with Ukraine would arouse the hope that gradually the whole world will enjoy greater peace and security.

Esteemed Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Slovenia greatly values the will and efforts of Ukraine to soon cooperate fully in the great European integrations, which are decisively influencing the future of the world. Your impressive potentials represent a great wealth for Europe. Here I can state with special pleasure that they also represent a great opportunity for increased cooperation between our countries.

Mr President, allow me to take this opportunity once again to thank you for your clear messages at the meeting of presidents of Central European countries, which we hosted last month in Slovenia. Your contribution at the meeting added a special and substantive mark.

It is therefore with heartfelt happiness that I raise my glass to Ukraine and its future, to Ukraine in the common European home, to fruitful cooperation between Ukraine and Slovenia, to a safe and peaceful world, to you, Mr President, to you, Mrs Kuchma, and to the happiness and successful work of all of you, ladies and gentlemen.