In Kobarid, ahead of today's official talks with the President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic, Romano Prodi, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša representatives of the Slovenian minority in Italy, who are members of the Government Council for Slovenians in Neighbouring Countries. Following the talks, the PM stressed that positive steps had been achieved for the Slovenian minority in Italy, and expressed hope that the Italian President, Giorgio Napolitano, would soon sign a decree with which the Regulations for the Protection of the Slovene Linguistic Minority of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region would become fully implemented.

 

(Photo: Bobo)

 

According to the PM, the Slovenian minority in Italy still faces several unresolved issues, but in the light of the implementation of the protective law, the situation is improving. One proof of this is that the proposal by the Parity Committee for the Problems of the Slovene Minority on thirty-two municipalities in Friuli-Venezia Giulia in which the law would be implemented has been confirmed. "The law must be fully implemented," said PM Janez Janša in reply to a question about the intentions of the Mayors of Gorizia, Trieste and Cividale del Friuli to implement it only in suburbs with a Slovenian population.

 

The Slovenian PM also said that the recently established bilingual school in San Pietro al Natisone in Venetian Slovenia was a positive step, adding that he would discuss minority issues at tomorrow's official meeting with the Italian Prime Minister, Romano Prodi. "Just as Slovenia will continue to maintain the protection of the Italian minority at or above European standards, I expect our neighbours to treat the Slovenian minority equally," said PM Janez Janša firmly.

 

Left to right: winemaker Aleš Kristančič, Italian PM Romano Prodi, Urška Bačovnik, Flavia Prodi and Slovenian PM Janez Janša (Photo: Bobo)

 

Ahead of tomorrow's official talks, both PMs met this afternoon for informal talks in Goriška Brda, and later visited the Kobarid Museum of the 1st World War.

 

(Photo: Bobo)