In the margins of the EU-US Summit meeting, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and current President of the European Council, Mr Janez Janša, today had a separate meeting with the President of the USA, Mr George W. Bush. The talks between the Slovenian Prime Minister and his US guest – held in a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere – covered both bilateral relations and topical international issues.
(Photo: Srdjan Živulovič/Bobo)
In the field of bilateral relations, both leaders focused mainly on economic cooperation, advocating its further strengthening. “Bilateral relations show that the US and Slovenia have developed excellent foundations and conditions for quality relations,” was how, after the meeting, Slovenian Prime Minister described the cooperation between the two countries. President George Bush commended Slovenia for the exceptional progress it had made since his last visit seven years ago, with its membership of NATO and the EU and, ultimately, its EU Council Presidency. The US President made special mention of Slovenia’s scenic beauty and tourist opportunities.
(Photo: Srdjan Živulovič/Bobo)
Both leaders also focused on the question of ‘the transformative power of democracy and freedom’, with the US President highlighting the Slovenian Prime Minister’s own case – a political prisoner twenty years ago and now Prime Minister and President of the European Council; according to President Bush, this is an optimum example of transformative power.
(Photo: Bor Slana/Bobo)
Among topical international issues, Prime Minister Janša and President Bush also discussed the increase in the price of fuels, climate change, and the climate change and energy package.They advocated strengthening EU and US investments aimed at developing ‘green industry’, which will pay off in the long term, thus contributing to a new technological revolution which is of vital importance from both ecological and economic points of view.
Prime Minister Janez Janša took the opportunity to present the US President with a Slovenian ‘Cult’ mountain bike, and he received a snowboard in return. (Photo: Srdjan Živulovič/Bobo)
The Slovenian Prime Minister and the US President also discussed the Western Balkans, devoting special attention to Serbia and Montenegro. Given Slovenia’s reputation, in the international community, as an authority on this region – which is also one of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency priority areas, the American side was mainly interested in hearing Slovenia’s views on the course of future developments.
(Photo: Srdjan Živulovič/Bobo)
The President of the European Council, Janez Janša, also outlined the state of play on the Lisbon Treaty to the US President, since in contrast to the previous Summit held last year in Washington, the European Union now has on the table a Treaty that will facilitate the European Union’s functioning and decision-making and also enhance its role in the world.
(Photo: Srdjan Živulovič/Bobo)
At the end of the US President’s visit to Slovenia, the Slovenian Prime Minister expressed thanks for the open-handed and open-hearted way in which the United States had taken in several hundred thousand Slovenes driven out of their homeland by the country’s economic and political conditions in the past. “Some of them, in their lives, contribute significantly to the development of the United States. We are very proud of them here in Slovenia, and we know that they, too, are proud of the progress Slovenia has made since its independence,” observed the Slovenian Prime Minister.
(Photo: Srdjan Živulovič/Bobo)
Just before leaving Slovenia, the President of the United States, George W. Bush, together with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, had a meeting with some members of the Slovenian Armed Forces that have taken part in international peacekeeping missions.
