Europe

Europe

Slovenian PM calls for national political harmony, close ties with EU

12 August 2011 20:46 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Slovenia Prime Minister Borut Pahor, who is confronted with a confidence crisis, made calls upon his people to work toward a national political unity, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

In his article published by the daily Vecer on Friday, Pahor says that Slovenia cannot afford political blockade, apparently referring to strong criticism in the wake of departure of Interior Minister Katarina Kresal.

Kresal resigned amid allegation of possible involvement in an economic corruption case.

Her resignation has lead to five portfolio vacancies, one third of all ministers in Pahor’s cabinet, thus raising the question of the legitimacy of the incumbent government among Slovenian legal experts.

Pahor attributed the current crisis and the lack of trust into politics to too high expectations of the people regarding the standard of living after the break-up of Yugoslavia.

Slovenia declared independence from former Yugoslavia in 1991, and is today a member of the European Union and the NATO.

On external affairs, Pahor says that Slovenians still fail to perceive their country as part of the international community and the globalized world. He believes that Slovenia should stick to its relations with the European Union which is striving for enhanced political, economic and social ties among European countries.

"It is especially important that we stay, practically at all cost, in the same currency zone as Germany and France," Pahor said.

In addition, he said, Slovenia should also promote strategic relations with the United States, Russia, Turkey, China and India.