| Foreign Relations And Regional Cooperation - Slovenia | | | | | |
In regular public statements, Slovenia's highest politicians underscore their government's commitment to expanding cooperative arrangements with neighbors and active contributions to international efforts aimed at bringing stability to southeast Europe. Resource limitations are a concern for the government, which does not wish to see itself spread too thin. Nonetheless, the Slovenes are taking concrete steps toward a more outward looking and constructive role in regional security arrangements, as resources allow. | | | Multilateral | | |
Slovenia assumed its duties as Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE in January 2005. Slovenia is a member of the OSCE Troika along with Bulgaria and Belgium, which will fill the CiO slot in 2006.
Through its International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance (ITF), Slovenia has created the demining instrument of choice for the international community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the rest of the Balkans, and now even further afield in Central Asia and Cyprus. The United States has contributed over $82 million to the ITF since 1998.
Slovenia is engaged with 29 countries in bilateral military exchange--most actively with the U.S.--and in regional cooperative arrangements in central and southeast Europe; it participates in or intends to contribute forces for five major multinational regional peacekeeping bodies.
Slovenia participates in the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) to halt the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), their delivery systems, and related materials worldwide.
Slovenia has ratified all thirteen international anti-terrorism conventions.
Slovenia is party to the Wassenaar arrangement controlling exports of weapons and sensitive technology to countries of concern. With Hungary and Italy, Slovenia formed a Multinational Land Force (Trilateral Brigade) in April 1998 with regional peacekeeping ability. Further nonmilitary cooperation within the Trilateral Brigade occurs in the fields of transportation infrastructure, combating money laundering and organized crime, weapons of mass destruction (WMD) non-proliferation, border controls, and environmental protection. In 2001, Croatia was invited to join what then became the Quadrilateral Brigade.
Slovenia's 10th motorized infantry battalion, established in 1996 as its primary "out-of-country" operation unit, is fully operational; one company was deployed to SFOR (now EUFOR) in January 2003.
Slovenia is an active participant in Southeast European Defense Ministerial (SEDM) activities. | | | Contributions to Bosnian Stability | | |
Slovenia has been engaged in both the SFOR and EUFOR missions, providing VIP support helicopter and light transport aircraft missions and use of an airbase in southern Slovenia.
Slovenia currently has a total of 210 personnel in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including a platoon of military police (up to 48) for the Italian-led Multinational Specialized Unit (MSU) in Sarajevo which has been deployed since January 1999.
Slovenia contributes to mine action programs in Bosnia and Herzegovina through the ITF. | | | Relations With Neighbors | | |
Slovenia's bilateral relations with its neighbors are generally harmonious and cooperative. However, there remain a few unresolved disputes with Croatia related to the succession of the former Yugoslavia, including demarcation of their common border. In addition, unlike the other successor states of the former Yugoslavia, Slovenia did not normalize relations with Serbia and Montenegro until after the passing from power of Slobodan Milosevic (although the Slovenes did open a representative office in Podgorica to work with Montenegrin President Djukanovic's government). With its entry into the European Union, Slovenia has become a strong advocate for the inclusion of other former Yugoslav republics into Euro-Atlantic institutions. Slovenia's strong political ties to the region are complemented by strong economic ties. Slovenia is among the largest foreign investors in the region. | | | Italy. | | | Italian-Slovene bilateral relations are also very good. By mid-1996, property restitution disputes derived from World War II had been set aside, allowing a dramatic improvement in relations. In 2001, the Italian Senate voted final approval of legislation resolving some minor differences remaining over minority rights issues and over the compensation for property abandoned by Italian refugees fleeing communist Yugoslavia in the postwar period. | | | Hungary. | | | Relations are excellent with Hungary. Hungarian (as well as Italian) minorities in Slovenia are accorded special treatment under the Slovenian constitution, including a permanent parliamentary seat. Within the Multilateral Cooperation Initiative between Slovenia, Italy, Hungary, and Croatia, cooperation exists in numerous fields, including military (Multinational Land Force peacekeeping brigade), transportation, combating money laundering and organized crime, non-proliferation, border crossings, and environmental issues. | | | Austria. | | | Austro-Slovenian relations are close. Although some disagreements over support for the other country's minorities continue to flare up, they are usually handled diplomatically and in a straightforward manner. Questions regarding nuclear power in Slovenia and the basis for the settlement of the Austrian State Treaty also appear to have been solved. Economic cooperation is expanding, including a joint project for development of border regions. | | | Croatia. | | | Though somewhat rocky at times, Croatian-Slovenian relations are solid. Outstanding issues include a few remaining border disputes, property rights, and Croatian depositors' savings in the Ljubljanska Banka from Yugoslav times. In 2003, Croatia declared its intention to claim a 200-mile exclusive economic zone in the Adriatic Sea, which would effectively cut off Sloveniaís use of international waters. Multilateral discussions among Slovenia, Croatia, and Italy on this issue continue with European Commission participation. In a series of high-level meetings since the latter half of 1998, Slovenia and Croatia have been engaged in settling bilateral differences, a process which accelerated after the death of Croatian President Franjo Tudjman in 1999 and has intensified under the government of Prime Minister Janez Jansa elected in October 2004. In order to aid the stabilization of this part of Europe, Slovenia has supported Croatia's efforts to draw closer to European institutions. Slovenia and Croatia most recently made an effort to improve relations during a joint government session on June 10, 2005 where three bilateral agreements were signed: Joint Statement on Avoiding of Conflicts, Bilateral Agreement on Avoiding Double Taxation, and an establishment of a joint Historical Commission for the border issue. |
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