PRESIDENT DE MARCO RECEIVES THE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF SLOVENIA

The President of Malta, H.E. Prof Guido de Marco on Friday, 16^th March received the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, Prof. Dimitrij Rupel. The meeting with Minister Rupel was held on the second day of the State Visit that the President of Malta is carrying out in Slovenia. During the meeting President de Marco and Minister Rupel discussed maters of common interest between the two countries. They renewed their longstanding personal friendship. The Slovenian minister who had just returned from his visit to Austria discussed with President de Marco the situation as it was evolving in the region. He reiterated the Slovenian government's policy to strengthen co-operation with Malta in all possible fields but especially in the economic, commercial, cultural and European Union areas.

Earlier in the day, President de Marco, together with the Minister of Education Dr. Louis Galea, visited the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia where he was welcomed by the Speaker Mr. Borut Pahor whom President de Marco had known when Mr. Pahor was member of the Council of Europe in 1996-98. The Speaker of the National Assembly explained to the President the packed agenda which the Slovenian Parliament was working on in order to enact the necessary legislation required by the various structural reforms in all fields to ensure that Slovenia could fruitfully participate in the post-Cold War world and also to meet successfully the challenges and opportunities raised by the acquis communautaire of the EU.

President de Marco referred to Malta's application to join the European Union and said that the Government of Malta's intention was to place the final decision in the hands of the people. President Guido de Marco explained to Mr. Pahor and his delegation how similar the change processes in Malta and Slovenia are. The President of Malta explained how the Maltese Parliament was also following a very busy schedule discussing laws intended to create new regulatory structures and other conditions to enable Malta both to enhance its potential and also to prepare many of its laws to meet European Union standards.

Following this meeting the President of Malta visited areas of cultural interest. In the evening he had a private meeting with President Milan Kucan. President de Marco accompanied by Minister Louis Galea and the Maltese delegation, later were the guests of President Kucan at a concert given by the Slovene Philharmonic Orchestra.

President de Marco left Slovenia on Saturday for the Slovak Republic.