Israeli President on official visit to Slovenia

Brdo pri Kranju, 22.7.2010  |  press release

The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Danilo Türk, received the President of the State of Israel, Shimon Peres, who had arrived on an official visit to the Republic of Slovenia. After being received with military honours, the Slovenian President and the Israeli President had a brief one-to-one meeting, followed by plenary talks between the delegation of the Republic of Slovenia and the delegation of the State of Israel, led by the respective presidents.

In his statement to the press, President Türk described President Shimon Peres as a great statesman of our time, who had contributed significantly to improving the situation in the world, in particular in the Middle East. He described relations between the Republic of Slovenia and the State of Israel as very good and highly developed. Dr Türk also expressed his hope that relations would develop further and in a direction to be as close as possible to the needs of both countries at a time of major transformational changes in the world. President Peres thanked the Slovenian President for his warm and friendly reception. He said that the green, quiet and human-friendly environment in Slovenia reminded him of his childhood. He also commended the successful economic development of Slovenia and expressed his respect for Slovenian’s sensitivity to human rights issues.

President Türk said that Slovenia greatly appreciates the importance of Israel as a country with highly developed science and technology. This was also one of the topics of discussion with Israeli President Peres, who highlighted in particular the importance of nanotechnology for the future of mankind. The Slovenian President stressed that Slovenia could greatly benefit from cooperation with Israel in the area of science and, in addition to nanotechnology, mentioned other areas, such as the use of solar energy and the use of science and new technologies in agriculture and medicine. He therefore advocated the best possible communication in this area and the reconstitution of part of the Joint Committee for Science and Technology of the Republic of Slovenia and the State of Israel.

President Peres said that Israel would gladly strengthen cooperation with Slovenia in science and technology, adding that his country endeavours to make achievements in science available to everyone. During their talks, the Israeli President also highlighted the problem of famine in the world, which, in his words, is becoming an ever more important issue, on which world peace in the future will depend. President Türk agreed with the importance of secure food supply and recalled that eradication of famine is one of the major Millennium Development Goals. The Israeli President emphasized that smaller countries, such as Israel and Slovenia, have established good cooperation in respect of such issues. He added that the size of a country today is not measured by its territory but by the degree of development of its people, science, morality and its political principles.

The Slovenian President informed President Peres that Slovenia and Croatia have recently signed an arbitration agreement. As he explained, Slovenia wishes to demonstrate with this agreement its willingness to resolve political problems that directly concern it and show a possible way of peacefully resolving international issues. He also presented to Mr Peres the importance of his recent meeting with Italian President Napolitano and Croatian President Josipoviĉ at the commemoration ceremony in Trieste.

The two Presidents also discussed the situation in the Middle East. President Türk supported the current efforts of the United States of America and the Middle East Quartet of international mediators and expressed his hope that the talks to take place will be such as to give results. He added that Slovenia's efforts for the success of the Middle East peace process are part of the efforts of the European Union. At the same time, Slovenia wishes to make a specific contribution with the rehabilitation of disabled children, victims of the war in Gaza, who are coming for treatment to Slovenia within the framework of the humanitarian initiative of the Slovenian President. On this occasion, President Türk expressed his thanks to President Peres for his support in the project of assisting the children from Gaza.

President Peres stressed that Israel did not wish anyone in Gaza to suffer physically, medically or in any other way. He explained that Israeli soldiers and civilians have voluntarily left Gaza and have no intention of returning there. Restrictions were introduced only then when, for unknown reasons, attacks on Israel started. The Israeli President emphasized that Gaza could remain a free and open country if its inhabitants renounced attacking Israel. He stressed that Israel believes in peace and wishes the Palestinians also to live a good life in normal conditions, because Israel wants to have good relations with its neighbours. He recalled his project "Save the Children", through which Israel had helped more than 6,000 Palestinian children. According to President Peres, this also proves that Israel wishes to live in peace and friendship with the Palestinians.

During their talks, the Slovenian and Israeli Presidents also exchanged views on the situation in Iran, whereby President Türk supported the efforts of the High Representative of the European Union, Catherin Ashton, to reopen discussions on the Iranian nuclear programme.