This was said during Russian-Slovenian consultations at the level of foreign ministers, held recently in Ljubljana, the press and information department of the Russian Foreign Ministry told RIA Novosti. The consultations were attended by Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Razov, on the Russian side, and Andrei Logar, the foreign ministry state secretary, on the Slovenian side.
"Sergei Razov has expressed the hope that the membership of Slovenia in the EU and NATO will not lead to the deterioration of the dynamics of Russian-Slovenian cooperation. The Slovenian side has confirmed its desire to do everything to prevent the possibility that the consequences of its entry into these Euroatlantic structures could stand in the way the further development of bilateral interaction in all areas," the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister said.
Since Slovenia has become a full-fledged member of NATO, Mr. Razov stressed the importance of its joining the adapted Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty in order to prevent the emergence of gray security zones that are not covered by the document.
The sides have confirmed their mutual desire to use their potential for the expansion of foreign policy interaction in the context of European cooperation. In 2005, Slovenia will chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
During his visit to Slovenia, Mr. Razov gave the Slovenia prime minister a message from Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov, that stated Russia's vision of the prospects of the further development of bilateral cooperation in certain sectors.
