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Mit - UVK_Sinfo_2008_09_št.13 - Index

“The sixth point says that a debate will begin in the international
community on determining the final status or solution to the
issues of Abhazia and South Ossetia. According to the Prime
Minister, the withdrawal of the Russian military from the occupied
territories, meaning a retreat to its position before 8 August, is
meanwhile a key factor for peace and stability.
While expressing hope that the EU delegation headed for
Moscow will help move things forward, Janša said that the EU
would discuss the situation again in October and November.
As regards specific steps forward in relations with Georgia, Janša
said that he expected a liberalisation of the visa system and that
the EU would contribute its mission to securing stability and
reestablishing trust in Georgia, also with the help of a donors
conference. While the conference enjoys unanimous support, a
date remains to be set.
Prime Minister Janša meanwhile backed Georgia’s proposal for
an international investigation of the events in the country that
would determine who started the conflict.
It is obvious that the build-up of Russian forces in the region did
not happen “over night”. This could mean that someone decided
on “a demonstration of power”, Janša added after the meeting.
TüRk CALLS fOR TRANSfORmATION IN
UN GENERAL ASSEmBLy
Slovenian President Danilo Türk addressed the UN General
Assembly on 24 September, saying that the world calls for
≈transformation« and presented his proposal for reforming the
UN Security Council. Türk pointed out three fields where he
thinks transformation is crucial: human rights, preservation of
the natural environment and international peace and security.He
praised the past achievements of the UN in human rights and
international security and stressed that further transformational
energy is needed in new efforts to better the world. ≈Obviously,
violations of human rights persist,« he said and added that
institutions of human rights like the International Criminal
Court need to be strengthened and supported. Addressing the
environment, he said that ≈incremental change will not do« and
that ≈all must cooperate«. He gave the example of the EU's plan of
activities to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases confirmed
during the Slovenian EU Presidency. However, according to Türk,
the environmental goals can only be reached if an ≈adequate
partnership is established among the key economic and political
players«.
The Slovenian president sees two sets of tasks needed for further
progress in the field of security - development of partnerships to
address the key security issues and transformation of the existing
security structures. Arguing that ≈reform of the UN Security
Council is long overdue«, he presented his views on how it could
be expanded. Türk would add six new permanent members from
all the regions of the world, with the non-permanent members
divided into two groups - six members with a two-year rotation
elected in accordance with a formula to be determined by the
General Assembly and eight elected in accordance with the
principle of equitable geographic distribution.
SLOVENIAN CONTINGENT IN kOSOVO
hANDS OVER DUTIES TO hUNGARIANS
On 1 September, the Slovenian peacekeeping contingent Grof
handed over its duty in the municipalities of PeË and Klina in
western Kosovo to a Hungarian contingent. The ceremony took
place at the Villagio Italia base near PeË and was attended by
numerous top officials. During the ceremony, the commander of
5
2WeeKLYreport
the Multinational Task Force West, Brigadier General Agostino
Biancafarina, handed over the banner from the commander of
the Slovenian contingent, Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Zakrajšek,
to Lieutenant-Colonel Laszlo Morucz, the commander of the
Hungarian contingent Nimrod.
The ceremony was attended by the Kosovo Force (KFOR)
commander, Lieutenant General Giuseppe Emilio Gay, Hungarian
Defence Minister Imre Szekeres and the deputy commander of
the central command of the Slovenian Armed Forces, Colonel
Vojteh Mihevc.
In the six months of the operation, the Slovenian contingent
inspected over 15,000 vehicles and 15,000 persons at 3,297
checkpoints and carried out 13,834 patrols, 38 escorts and 36
joint activities, primarily with the Kosovo border police.
For the next six months, two Slovenian companies with 266
soldiers will operate within the Hungarian contingent − one from
the 18th battalion for protection against radiological, chemical and
biological hazards and one from the 20th motorised battalion.
PRESIDENT TüRk VISITS mONTENEGRO
On 2 September, Slovenian President Danilo Türk, during his
state visit to Montenegro, met his counterpart Filip VujanoviÊ,
Prime Minister Milo –ukanoviÊ and parliamentary Speaker Ranko
KrivokapiÊ. The talks focused mainly on economic cooperation
between the two countries.
Türk emphasised that relations between the countries were
excellent. –ukanoviÊ showed interest in Slovenian investments in
Montenegrin trekking tourism. Other important subjects in Türk’s
talks with high Montenegrin representatives were also related to
economic development and the increase of investments between
the two countries. Slovenia and Montenegro would especially
like to boost cooperation in banking, insurance, construction and
tourism.
President Türk also heard the Montenegrin analysis of the situation
in Kosovo after the province broke away from Serbia and declared
independence in February. He commended Montenegro for its
contribution to peace and stability in the region.
The president reassured Montenegro of Slovenia’s support for
the country’s accession to the EU and NATO. He also said that
Slovenia had done everything in its power during its stint at the
helm of the EU to enable progress for Western Balkan countries.
They all made progress, Türk said. “The only remaining question
is whether the progress met expectations.”
Türk believes that candidates should enter the bloc individually
once they meet the accession criteria and should not have to wait
for other countries.
ThE ACCESSION TO SChENGEN BRINGS
NEw OPPORTUNITIES fOR mINORITIES
The Council for Slovenians in Neighbouring Countries, a
government advisory body established in 2006 as part of
legislation relating to Slovenians abroad, addressed the status of
the Slovenian minorities on 2 September at a session at Brdo pri
Kranju. The Council also discussed future projects to strengthen
minorities’ links to Slovenia.
With Slovenia’s accession to the Schengen zone, the borders
between Slovenia, Austria, Italy and Hungary fell, reuniting the
Slovenian cultural territory, Prime Minister Janez Janša noted in
a press release. “We are probably not even aware yet of all the
opportunities that the fall of the borders in Europe brings for the
Slovenian people,” said Janša, expressing the hope that these
opportunities would be put to good use.
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