The Slovenian president Drnovšek and the UN Secretary General Annan discuss the role of international community in the area of South Eastern Europe
New York, 09/26/2003 | press release
The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Janez Drnovšek, who earlier today participated in the general debate at the 58th Session of the UN General Assembly, this afternoon met with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr Kofi Annan. In their discussions, Secretary-General Annan emphasised that the UN has had to cope with great challenges during the past year. He pointed out that one of the most important tasks and challenges for the UN in the immediate future is the implementation of the adopted goals of the Millennium Declaration in all areas of its activities. For his part, the Slovenian President highlighted the interconnection and complexity of the modern world, so that the role of the UN in the international community should remain of central importance, and he welcomed the endeavours of the Secretary-General to accomplish the reform and developmental goals of the UN organisation.
The two interlocutors also touched upon the problems related to the rebuilding and revitalisation of Iraq, where the UN still needed to find an adequate role for itself. In this respect, Secretary-General Annan pointed out that the new resolution should give to Iraq and the countries of the region a powerful signal to contribute to the settlement and stabilisation of the situation in this part of the world.
The discussions between the Slovenian President and the UN Secretary-General also focused on issues related to South Eastern Europe. In his speech earlier in the day, the Slovenian President stressed that the international community, now preoccupied with the most high-profile crises, should not neglect the region of South Eastern Europe, which in the 1990s presented the main threat to global peace and security. In this regard, Dr Drnovšek explained the role of Slovenia in the region occupied by the former Yugoslav countries, where it is active in efforts by the international community to achieve long-term stability in the region. Slovenia is, therefore, active in many regional initiatives and also cooperates closely with the EU membership candidate countries in the region by offering them the benefit of its own experience. Dr Drnovšek stated his belief that an international presence in some former Yugoslav republics would still be required for quite some time. Regarding Bosnia and Herzegovina, the President and the Secretary-General agreed that it was necessary to find a way to ensure long-term stability. In relation to Kosovo, they believed that the issue of the status quo should be dealt with as soon as possible and a solution, one that would be acceptable to all concerned, should be found. They also agreed that with regard to Macedonia, the implementation of the Ohrid Agreement was the correct way to achieving long-term peace and stability in the country.
At the conclusion of their talks, Secretary-General Annan congratulated President Drnovšek on Slovenia's leading role in offering assistance to the victims of the Balkan wars. Mr Annan added that Slovenia had made exceptional progress in a relatively short period and he wished that other countries of South Eastern Europe would follow in its footsteps.
Prior to the meeting with the Secretary-General, President Drnovšek also met with Dr Danilo Türk, Assistant Secretary-General at the UN's Department of Political Affairs.