At the press conference held jointly with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia, Mr Ivars Godmanis, and the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Mr Mirek Topolánek, at the beginning of the 3rd Bled Strategic Forum, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia Janez Janša, said that the talks held by the three prime ministers at yesterday’s and today’s meetings focused on the situation in Georgia and on tomorrow’s extraordinary meeting of the European Council on the events in the European Union’s neighbouring countries to the east.

 

From left: Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia, Mr Ivars Godmanis, Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia Janez Janša and Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Mr Mirek Topolánek (Photo: Kristina Kosec/Bobo)

 

“When discussing tomorrow’s extraordinary meeting of the European Council, we share the same position that peace, stability and respect for territorial integrity of countries is needed in Georgia in particular and in this part of the European Union neighbourhood in general. Moreover, we need a clearly-defined European perspective of the countries in the European Union’s eastern neighbourhood, and, at this particular moment, commitment on the part of all relevant international institutions in order to prevent the conflict from escalating and in order to ensure peace and stability,” said the Slovenian Prime Minister.

 

(Photo: Kristina Kosec/Bobo)

 

Prime Minister Janša said he was pleased that both prime ministers accepted the invitation to participate in the 3rd Bled Strategic Forum, which is one of the major European events focusing on the most topical issues of common concern. At their bilateral meetings, the prime ministers also discussed the main topics of the Bled Strategic Forum – climate change and energy.

 

(Photo: Kristina Kosec/Bobo)

 

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia Janez Janša, said that he and the Czech Prime Minister also discussed the forthcoming Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union next year, devoting special attention to the Czech Presidency’s priorities. “We are pleased to see enlargement of the European Union to the Western Balkans included among Czech priorities. It is indeed the continuation of one of Slovenia’s priorities and Slovenia will be delighted to cooperate to the best of its abilities,” promised Prime Minister Janša.

 

(Photo: Kristina Kosec/Bobo)

 

On this occasion, the Slovenian Prime Minister thanked Prime Minister Godmanis and Prime Minister Topolánek for their assistance, understanding and cooperation in the first half of 2008 when Slovenia was the first new Member State at the helm of the European Union. “Assistance provided by our colleagues, in particular from the new Member States, was very important. Coordination meetings held at that time with the Visegrad Group, Baltic States and, in person with both prime ministers were instrumental in helping Slovenia to accomplish its task in a balanced way, having the European Union’s best interests at heart, of old and new Member States alike.” Both prime ministers took the opportunity to commend Slovenia on its Presidency and to thank Prime Minister Janša for the important and responsible work accomplished in that time.