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Bilateral talks held by the President of the Republic of Slovenia on the margins of the World Economic Forum on the Middle East

Sharm El Sheikh, 19.5.2008  |  press release


Klikni za poveèavoOn the margins of the World Economic Forum, the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Danilo Türk, held several bilateral meetings this morning with statesmen and other influential personalities. With the founder and the Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, Dr Klaus Schwab, he discussed the Forum’s activities and the pressing need for European countries to be more actively involved in the Forum.
The Slovenian President went on to meet the Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. In a lengthy discussion, the two statesmen analysed in detail the situation in the Palestinian National Authority and progress in the peace process. The Palestinian Prime Minister especially emphasised the importance of creating joint security forces in the Palestinian territories and the improvement of communications. He also expressed satisfaction with the European Union’s contribution so far in providing humanitarian, economic and political assistance, and advocated further strengthening of the EU role. Dr Türk and Mr Fayyad agreed that the European Union’s role also needed to be enhanced within the Middle East Quartet, composed - besides the EU - of the USA, UN and the Russian Federation, with a view to increasing that body’s efficiency.Klikni za poveèavo
Klikni za poveèavoDr Türk today also visited the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt and host of the World Economic Forum, Hosni Mubarak. In a lengthy and cordial discussion, they exchanged views on the situation in the wider Middle East region. The Egyptian President outlined the efforts undertaken so far by Egypt to achieve a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian groups in Gaza. The two Presidents also analysed concepts of a Union for the Mediterranean and projects for cooperation between the European Union and other Mediterranean countries. In this context, Dr Türk outlined the state of progress in preparations for the establishment of a Euro-Mediterranean University with a seat in Slovenia. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak accepted with pleasure an invitation from President Türk to visit Slovenia.
The Slovenian President then had a brief meeting with the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, with whom he discussed the situation in Afghanistan. President Karzai emphasised achievements in the process of stabilisation of Afghanistan, particularly in setting up infrastructure and in the area of education. He also especially stressed the importance of ‘Afghanisation’ or further strengthening of the Afghan authorities in all areas, including military.Klikni za poveèavo
Klikni za poveèavoTowards noon, President Türk met the President of the World Bank, Robert Zoellick. The Slovenian President presented the priorities of the Slovenian EU Presidency, particularly in the area of combating global warming and achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Mr Zoellick outlined the World Bank’s contribution to these efforts. He particularly emphasised the current problems caused by the rise in food prices, which significantly affect the achievement of development goals. He added that the World Bank was proposing a number of short-term measures to combat the phenomenon, such as increasing the funding for operations of the United Nations World Food Programme, as well as medium-term and long-term measures, to be discussed in the context of the United Nations.

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