NEWS

Slovenian Prime Minister Pahor meets Indian Prime Minister Singh on the second day of his state visit to India

The Prime Minster of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, commenced the second day of his state visit to the Republic of India by attending the official ceremonial reception, with military honours, at the Rashtrapati Presidential Palace. Prime Minister Pahor was received by the Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh, and his ministers. After the official state honours, Prime Minister Pahor and the Slovenian delegation laid a wreath at the Mahatma Gandhi memorial at Rajghat and signed the visitors' book.

   

Prime Minister Pahor then held a meeting with India's Foreign Minister, S. M. Krishna who welcomed the Slovenian Prime Minister and the delegation on the first state visit to India, and expressed India's appreciation of the amicable relations between the two countries. Minister Krishna also extended his sincere congratulations to Prime Minister Pahor on the twentieth anniversary of Slovenia's independence and on the opening of the new offices of the Slovenian Embassy to India. Pahor and Krishna were of the opinion that, due to the excellent mutual relations between the two countries, Slovenia can become an entry point to the European Union area for India. They agreed to strengthen political dialogue at bilateral and multilateral levels. Prime Minister Pahor also invited Minister Krishna to attend this year's Bled Forum, to be held in September, entitled 'The Power of the Future'.

 

(Photo: Daniel Novakovič/SPA)

 

Prime Minister Pahor and Minister Krishna then exchanged views on the global political and security situation, paying particular attention to North Africa and the Middle East. Prime Minister Pahor acquainted Minister Krishna with the process of settling the border dispute with Croatia and the current situation in the Western Balkans. They discussed the functioning of the European Union and the eurozone; Minister Krishna pointed to the endeavours made by India in strengthening its cooperation with the European Union. The meeting was concluded with an exchange of views on the global economic crisis and the current situation in the global markets.

 

(Photo: Daniel Novakovič/SPA)

 

During the course of his state visit, Prime Minister Pahor was also received by the President of India, Pratibha Devisingh Patil. In their constructive talks, the Slovenian Prime Minister and the Indian President committed themselves to further enhancing the existing amicable relations between the two countries in the political and economic spheres. They discussed cooperation in higher education and research; the Indian side expressed its strong interest with regard to investments in Slovenia. At the conclusion of the meeting, Prime Minister Pahor invited President Patil to visit Slovenia.

  

Prime Minister Pahor also attended the Slovenian-Indian Business Conference and addressed the large audience of Indian and Slovenian businessmen present there. In his address, Prime Minister Pahor summarised Slovenia's twenty years of development, described the investment environment for Indian investments and pointed out that he was accompanied by a very diverse group of business executives representing some of the best companies in Slovenia. He concluded by stressing the importance of the agreements to be signed by both countries' businessmen and governments during the visit. Outside the main business conference proceedings, Prime Minister Pahor attended the signing of an agreement between the Velenje Mine and the Fairwood Group on joint investments, while the Slovenian and Indian ministers responsible for transport attended the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Adria Airways and Air India Ltd.

   

During the course of the day, Prime Minister Pahor will also meet the Vice President of the Republic of India, the opposition leader, Sushma Swaraj, and a selected group of Indian business executives. Within the main programme of the state visit, Prime Minister Pahor will again meet the Prime Minister of the Republic of India, Dr Manmohan Singh, in the evening, whereupon they will attend the signing of agreements and memoranda — and head talks — between the delegations of the two countries. Prime Minister Pahor, accompanied by the delegation and some Slovenian businessmen, will conclude his day by attending a gala reception hosted by Indian Prime Minister Singh in honour of the state visit by the Slovenian Prime Minister.