LJUBLJANA, May 30, (WEBNOVINY) — Prime Minister of Slovenia Borut Pahor underscored at a news conference after meeting in the Slovenian capital on Monday with his Slovak counterpart Iveta Radicova that economic cooperation between their countries has been growing. He specified that in 2010, mutual trade increased 12 percent while in the first months of this year trade rose 24 percent. Pahor attributed the remarkable growth also to the establishment of the Slovak-Slovenian Economic Club. “Both governments are interested in expanding economic cooperation. Slovenian capital’s presence in Slovakia is higher than vice versa, but Slovak capital is welcome in our country,” said the Slovenian prime minister.
Radicova thinks as well that the Slovak-Slovenian economic cooperation is well developed and Slovakia wants to continue it. “We expect revitalization of the railway transport in Slovenia. We are ready to participate in the construction of railways of Slovenia,” she said adding that Slovakia will continue using the Slovenian port of Koper via which it exports considerable amounts of goods.
Radicova underscored that serious topics have faded away from the public’s consciousness. “The citizens do not understand why we want to save, why we cannot deepen our debts, why we have to launch painful reforms. If we fail to do so, the crisis will have more far-reaching impacts. Despite misunderstanding and resistance on the part of the public, our duty is to push through core measures. Without reforms, mainly in the old-pension sphere, the situation of Slovakia’s citizens will deteriorate,” stated Radicova. She underscored that she does not want to disappoint the citizens but without their understanding it is not possible to implement elementary changes.
Pahor remarked that he and his guest are satisfied with the development of relations between their countries and nations. No pending issue has been burdening political relations,“ he underscored.
Radicova informed that Slovakia is offering to Slovenia the possibility to share outcomes of its anti-corruption program and judicial reform. Slovakia can serve as an inspiration for Slovenia also in the field of improving the business environment. Unlike in Slovenia, there are great regional gaps in her country while investments with the richest state incentives flow into regions with high jobless rate. Radicova said as well that Slovakia envies Slovenia its university, which is in the 500 top world universities chart while none of Slovakia’s universities can be proud of such ranking.
Radicova is paying an official visit to Slovenia with Economy Minister Juraj Miskov and Foreign Ministry State Secretary Milan Jezovica The prime minister met not only with Pahor, at whose invitation the visit takes place but also with President Danilo Turk and Speaker of Parliament Pavol Gantar. Slovak business leaders are accompanying the prime minister to Slovenia who will discuss the development of economic cooperation at the economic forum where both prime ministers will take the floor. At the Faculty of Economics of the University of Ljubljana, Radicova will deliver a speech and discuss with students.
SITA