Today, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, met the Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Vasile Tarlev, who has been visiting Slovenia with a business delegation. This is the first meeting at the highest level since diplomatic relations were established between the two countries. According to the Slovenian PM, there are no serious unresolved issues between the two countries, while economic and political cooperation is good.

 

(Photo: Primož Lavre/Salomon 2000)

After the meeting, Mr Janša said he was pleased with the favourable trends in economic cooperation, while the trade in goods could be increased. In this respect, the visit of the Moldovan PM and the business delegation to Slovenia, and the signing of a memorandum on cooperation between the ministries of the economy of both countries is an important step towards reaching this goal.

 

The Slovenian PM and his guest also discussed the future of the European Union and its enlargement. Slovenia, having recently established the Centre for European Perspective, has offered Moldova assistance and support provided by this institution. "We have commended Moldova for its political and economic reforms, and the adoption of European standards. I have ensured my guest that Slovenia has, and will continue to support the EU open door policy, and the accession policy which enables all European countries seeking to become EU members to achieve this goal by meeting the required criteria," said Mr Janša.

 

According to the Slovenian PM, the future enlargement of the EU will be one of the priorities of Slovenia's EU presidency in 2008, when the country plans to invest considerable efforts in taking concrete steps to this end. The process of uniting Europe within the European Union is an enormous project which began fifty years ago and will be completed when those European countries which seek to become members, and have met all the criteria, succeed in attaining this goal. Mr Janša therefore recommended his Moldovan counterpart and the business delegation to continue their reforms.