Slovenian President Türk Receives Austrian Chancellor Faymann

Ljubljana, 26.8.2009  |  press release

The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Danilo Türk, received the Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria, Werner Faymann, who is on a working visit to Slovenia.

The Slovenian President and the Austrian Chancellor positively assessed relations between the two countries, while particularly focusing on the problems of Slovenes living in Austrian Carinthia. President Türk advocated common projects in resolving open issues, such as bilingual schools, where both countries could, within the Council of Europe, help develop a school model reflecting a higher level of teaching quality.

President Türk and Chancellor Faymann particularly focused on bilingual topography, whereby Mr Faymann pointed out the political aspect of this issue. Dr Türk emphasised that the issue of bilingual topography is a matter of implementation of the Austrian State Treaty and implementation of the decisions of the Austrian Constitutional Court. He added that determination in implementing these decisions also helps create the necessary political conditions to this end.

The Slovenian President and the Austrian Chancellor also touched upon cooperation within the United Nations, where Austria is currently a member of the Security Council, as well as efforts to provide conditions for Croatia's successful candidacy for EU membership. President Türk expressed the hope that, based on the recent meeting between the Slovenian and Croatian prime ministers, the talks would be successful.