Today, the Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, received Massimo D'Alema, the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister of Italy. The host and his guest assessed that the good relations between the two countries could be further strengthened by adopting more concrete forms of cooperation in numerous areas.

 

(Photo: Nebojša Tejić/Salomon 2000)

 

The PM approved the Italian proposal for strengthening cooperation between the transport, energy and environment ministries. Thus, both governments would solve current issues with regard to maintaining enviromental standards in the Adriatic Sea more easily and efficiently.

 

Mr Janša and Mr D'Alema agreed that both countries face the same challenges, and the Italian minister assured Slovenia of Italy's full support during the country's EU presidency in the first half of 2008.

 

The host and his guest agreed that minorities have an important role in strengthening relations and that they provide an additional opportunity for cooperation. The PM said he hoped that the Italian government would meet Slovenia's expectations regarding the Parity Committee for the Problems of the Slovene Minority and the full implementation of the Regulations for the Protection of the Slovene Linguistic Minority of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region.