Poland and Slovenia will know how to implement their good cooperation and interests as partners in the EU
Ljubljana, 11/14/2003 | press release
The President of the Republic, Dr Janez Drnovšek, and his guest, the Polish President, Aleksander Kwasniewski, attended a business conference in which numerous representatives of Slovenian companies, and economists and businessmen from Poland took part. At the conference, specific possibilities for the stimulation of trade between the countries were examined. President Drnovšek addressed the assembled economists and businessmen with the following words (unofficial transcription):
Mr President, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Yesterday, the Slovene and Polish delegations had excellent discussions, which is additional proof of the exceptionally good relations that have been established between the countries in the years since Slovenia gained independence. Poland is one of the countries with which we have the most friendly and solid ties. The present visit of President Kwasniewski reconfirms such relations and the atmosphere of our talks foretells with certainty that we can count on their very positive development in the future.
I am very pleased with the development of economic exchange. The President of the Chamber of Economy, Mr Čuk, has delivered a set of data that show how significant a partner Poland is to Slovenia, and that its market is very important. In terms of population, Poland is approximately twenty times bigger than Slovenia and such a country and its market merits full respect. I am therefore convinced that many possibilities for further development and expansion of economic contacts exist, not only in terms of economic exchange but also in terms of economic investments in both directions. Our forthcoming membership of the EU opens up additional prospects for economic relations in the future. We shall be interrelated in a common European market. We shall also be part of the family of European countries and, in this context, Poland and Slovenia will cooperate very closely and try to pursue their interests within the EU in the best possible way. It is already evident today that our positions on a number of issues are similar, and that we have many similar or common interests.
I anticipate that as economists and businessmen, you will be able to take advantage of available opportunities, and since you were able to survive harder times in the past, I am convinced that both the Polish and Slovene economies, under new conditions within European integrations, will be even more successful and that we can expect new opportunities and fast development. We cannot take this for granted, of course, but by applying our knowledge and efforts, we should be able to take advantage of these opportunities. I wish you much success in your work, many economic achievements in the future, too, and I hope that economic relations between Poland and Slovenia continue to grow as they have so far.
Thank you.