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Slovenian president at bilateral meetings discusses the importance of cooperation between smaller states
New York, 09/26/2003 | press release
Today, the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Janez Drnovšek, took part in the 58th Session of the UN General Assembly and tomorrow will deliver a speech within the context of the general debate. During his bilateral meetings this morning, the President met with the Prime Minister of the Principality of Andorra, Mr Marc Forne Molne, and the President of Albania, Mr Alfred Moisiu.
During his discussions with Dr Drnovšek, the Andorran Prime Minister pointed to an urgent need for the strengthening of cooperation between the countries, particularly in a period when both had undertaken new obligations related to their full memberships of international organisations. Cooperation between smaller states within the multilateral context is highly important, Prime Minister Molne stressed, so there is an effort to intensify relations, especially between those states that are already members of the EU and those that are still in the process of signing bilateral agreements. Moreover, both statesmen expressed their interest in increasing the exchange of trade between the two countries.
In the discussions between Dr Drnovšek and the Albanian President, both espoused the idea of strengthening bilateral relations in the political and economic spheres, amongst others. The Slovenian President stated that Albanian endeavours to implement reforms in the country and its many activities aiming at strengthening domestic order and stability constituted the correct means towards achieving stability, not just at home but also in the wider region. The Albanian President outlined the situation in the country during the pre-election period and stated that the country was trying to accomplish the same goals as Slovenia: membership of the EU and of NATO. Furthermore, the Albanian President pointed out that Albania was also the instigator of closer trilateral cooperation with Croatia and Macedonia, having the objective of speeding up accession to NATO. In response to the interest expressed by the Slovenian President, Mr Moisiu explained Albania's position in regard to the Kosovo crisis, saying that the countries of this region should become an 'open area' within which the representatives of the different cultures and societies could settle issues in a spirit of tolerance. He also added that, as a precondition for political stability in the region, a standard of living should be achieved that enables Kosovo and neighbouring countries to lead a decent life.
At the end of their discussion, the Albanian President thanked his Slovenian counterpart for the role Slovenia played in, and the attention it was devoting to, the region of South Eastern Europe.
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