NEWS
Prime Minister Borut Pahor visits Paris
“France is Slovenia’s third largest trading partner. Last year the volume of trade between the two countries increased by 7%, and we believe it is important that the financial and economic crisis does not prevent the volume of trade from further increasing,” stressed the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr Borut Pahor, who today paid a working visit to Paris. The talks with the President of the French Republic, Mr Nicolas Sarkozy, and the French Prime Minister, Mr François Fillon, centred on tackling the global financial and economic crisis.
(Photo: Kristina Kosec/Bobo)
After the visit, the Slovenian Prime Minister emphasised that the Slovenian side wished to be updated on measures taken by the large eurozone countries to tackle the financial and economic crisis; the Government of the Republic of Slovenia would thus be able to bring their further national measures in line with these measures. “The meetings in London and Paris were aimed at helping Slovenia join the most advanced and ambitious projects undertaken by countries to tackle the crisis,” said Prime Minister Pahor; he also expressed support for the French proposal to hold another eurozone summit.
(Photo: Kristina Kosec/Bobo)
“People in France and Slovenia expect us to provide solutions to the problems facing our two countries and Europe as a whole. It is our responsibility to find these solutions, and we welcome every initiative leading towards this goal,” stressed Mr Pahor after the talks with President Sarkozy.
(Photo: Kristina Kosec/Bobo)
Following the meeting with French Prime Minister Fillon, the Slovenian Prime Minister said the French side had assured him that the measures already taken or planned by the French Government to tackle the financial and economic crisis would not put at risk industries that are important for creating jobs in Slovenia.
(Photo: Kristina Kosec/Bobo)
In a statement to the media, Mr Pahor, who was very pleased with the outcome of the talks, said that he invited French President Sarkozy and Prime Minister Fillon to visit Slovenia on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the establishment of the Illyrian Provinces.
(Photo: Kristina Kosec/Bobo)
As part of the visit to Paris, the Slovenian delegation also visited the headquarters of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), where the Slovenian Prime Minister had a meeting with the Secretary-General of the OECD, Mr Angel Gurria, while the chief negotiator for Slovenia’s membership of the OECD, Development Minister Mitja Gaspari, had a meeting with the Deputy Secretary-General of the OECD, Ms Thelma Askey, who is responsible for OECD enlargement and enhanced engagement with non-members. Mr Pahor and Mr Gaspari assess that Slovenia, which in May 2007 received an invitation to join the elite club of the world’s 30 leading economies, could join the OECD as early as next year.