With his meeting with representatives of the Hungarian minority, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, began the second round of government visits to the regions of Slovenia. As in March 2005, the cabinet will again visit Pomurje and discuss the development perspectives of Pomurje and the progress which has been made in the last two years with representatives of the business sector, civil society and non-governmental organisations.

(Photo: Nebojša Tejić/Salomon2000)

At today's meeting, the PM and some ministers exchanged views on the resolution on the Hungarian and Italian minorities - which is currently being drafted - with representatives of the Hungarian minority. According to the PM, the adoption of the resolution will provide significant motivation; the resolution also includes guidelines for resolving some issues.

 

The meeting also addressed preparations for a meeting of the Slovenian and Hungarian governments scheduled to take place in the autumn on both sides of the border, and progress on resolving outstanding issues, which the government team heard at a similar meeting two years ago.

 

"We have established that significant progress has been made, However, the Hungarian minority in Prekmurje faces the same development problems as the whole country, therefore accelerated progress in the whole of Slovenia is also in its strategic interest," said the PM after the meeting, adding that since the government's first visit, positive signals have also emerged in this area, which will be discussed in more detail at more than seventy-five meetings tomorrow.