Arriving at the NATO Summit meeting in Bucharest, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and current President of the European Council, Mr Janez Janša, said that at this meeting, too, Slovenia would support the continuation of the open door policy, with particular emphasis on the countries of the Western Balkans. He emphasised that, in keeping with this view, Slovenia advocates issuing an invitation to Macedonia to join the Alliance.

 

Prime Minister Janez Janša and Miss Urška Bačovnik at the reception given by the Romanian President Traian Băsescu and Mrs Băsescu on the occasion of the NATO Summit (Photo: Bobo)

 

Prime Minister pointed out that in the case of Macedonia and its name there was only one matter at issue, one he considered the leaders would undoubtedly succeed in resolving. “It would indeed be a pity if a country of such importance for the stability of the Western Balkans were denied the invitation to join NATO on account of a single bilateral matter. Should this happen, this Summit would then be curtailed to some extent,” maintained the Prime Minister, saying that he hoped that a step forward in this regard would be taken at the Summit, in fulfilment of expectations.

 

“It would be unfortunate if any of the countries meeting the requisite conditions were not invited to join the Alliance. That would, in a way, be a bad sign for the further enlargement of the European Union,” observed the Prime Minister, adding that it was in Slovenia’s best interest that there was no deadlock on this issue. At the Summit attended by Prime Minister Janez Janša along with the Slovenian Foreign Minister and Defence Minister, a significant part of the discussions will centre on the ambitions of a number of countries who wish to be further integrated into and to cooperate with the North-Atlantic Alliance.