Official visit by the Federal President of the Republic of Austria

Brdo pri Kranju, Piran, 19.4.2011  |  press release

The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Danilo Türk, and his wife, Barbara Mikliè Türk, hosted the Federal President of the Republic of Austria, Dr Heinz Fischer, and his wife, Margit Fischer, on their two-day official visit to Slovenia. After talks, the two heads of state presented each other with the highest state decorations. President Türk conferred the Order for Exceptional Services on President Fischer, who awarded the Grand Star of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria to his Slovenian host. The award ceremony was followed by a plenary discussion between the Slovenian and Austrian delegations, headed by their respective presidents.

According to President Türk, he not only values President Fischer for his work as President of a neighbouring country, but also for being a prominent figure who has already made a considerable contribution to the development of bilateral relations between Slovenia and Austria, the strengthening of mutual trust and respect and also to specific solutions to various issues in the context of bilateral relations. He also noted the positive role played by President Fischer in the European Union and the international community. He further emphasised that the political dialogue between Slovenia and Austria was open, and that their representatives at the highest level also discussed sensitive bilateral issues.

President Fischer thanked the Slovenian President for his invitation and hospitality, and described their talks as encompassing a wide range of important topics. He is pleased that he can contribute to the strengthening of the excellent relations between Austria and Slovenia. Good relations with neighbouring countries are of great value for every country. He congratulated President Türk on the approaching 20th birthday of independent and sovereign Slovenia and reminded him of the soon-to-follow 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

President Türk highlighted the ongoing important discussions between the representatives of the Carinthian Slovenians in Austria and the representatives of the Austrian federal government and the Carinthian provincial authorities. Furthermore, he hopes and expects that these negotiations will be conducted in good faith and aimed at finding a common language and good answers to the issue of bilingual topographical signs and other questions. In order to facilitate solutions to other issues, it is important that bilingual topographical signs are considered in a package with other topics associated with the use of the Slovenian language and the work of Slovenian schools, kindergartens and music schools.

President Fischer said that he had always tried to support the rights of the Slovenian national community in Austria. Legal provisions to this end exist and Austria is obliged to accept and honour them. Negotiations on these issues are the right path to take in order to define a sensible set of measures dealing with issues beyond bilingual topographical signs. It is important to tackle issues together in a comprehensive package that will implement the decisions of the Austrian Constitutional Court and foster friendship between the two peoples through good solutions. He emphasised that we had never been that close to a solution.

It would be useful at this stage of negotiations, if the focus could shift from percentages and figures to a list of places with bilingual topographical signs that is acceptable for both sides, agreed the presidents. In President Türk’s words, there is no end to history, and this is an opportune moment to reach an agreement that would in turn serve as a platform for coexistence, cooperation and solutions. If these solutions create a positive atmosphere of cooperation, other, even better, solutions will follow.

President Türk and his guest also examined the status of the German-speaking community in Slovenia. This is not an issue of reciprocity, explained President Türk, since the 2001 bilateral agreement on cooperation in culture, education and science provides for the funding of the German speaking community’s projects in Slovenia. He endorsed the proposal to engage its members in the emerging consultative mechanism within the Slovenian Government. President Fischer replied that this was an important topic for the atmosphere of relations between Austria and Slovenia, and that quantity did not play a role since it was all about symbolic steps. We should listen to each other and respect each other. In the light of this he welcomed steps made in this direction.

The two presidents also talked about economic cooperation between Slovenia and Austria. President Türk added that trade between Slovenia and Austria was excellent and amounted to nearly four billion euro. Investments of Austrian companies in Slovenia have reached a high level, with Slovenia hoping in particular for an increase in technological investments. The Austrian President agreed that bilateral trade had reached a very high level. He added that Austria would like to remain the biggest investor in Slovenia, and this should be one of the objectives in the further development of economic relations.

In addition to good economic collaboration, the Slovenian President highlighted good cooperation in culture and good communication in the field of nuclear safety. In view of the recent nuclear catastrophe in the Japanese city of Fukushima, President Türk and his guest believe that the existing dialogue and communication between experts should be enhanced in respect of all nuclear safety issues. In the opinion of President Fischer, the safety of the citizens of Austria and Slovenia comes first. We should look for short-term solutions to enhance safety and substitute nuclear energy with renewable energy sources in the long run.

In their talks, the presidents also touched upon the European Union and other international topics. They supported Croatia's bid for EU membership and the EU Strategy for the Danube region. By way of conclusion, President Türk expressed his pleasure over the visit of the Austrian President at this opportune moment for addressing topics of bilateral cooperation together in a trusting, constructive and creative manner, and to take these relations to a new level. According to President Fischer, Austria will do its utmost to maintain ties with Slovenia at this high level. Any potential changes in relations should be positive and not a step backwards.

In the evening, President Fischer and his wife, Margit Fischer, together with President Türk and his wife, Barbara Mikliè Türk, met with the Mayor of Piran, Peter Bossman, and his wife, Karmen Lakoviè Bossman, who showed them the centre of Piran. The group also attended a concert of Giuseppe Tartini's music.