The EU and the Western Balkans discussed during state visit of Slovenian president

Mrs Barbara Miclic Türk, President Danilo Türk, President Tarja Halonen and Dr Pentti Arajärvi. Copyright: Office of the President of the Republic of Finland

 The European Union and the Western Balkans were important topics in the discussions held between President of the Republic Tarja Halonen and President of Slovenia Danilo Türk at the Presidential Palace. “It is important to meet with other active EU Member States. Our Old Europe is in a state of constant renewal,” President Halonen said at the event’s press conference. President Türk and his spouse were on a state visit to Finland from 8 to 10 March 2010.

President Halonen praised Slovenia’s constructive role in the Western Balkans region. At the end of the month, Slovenia will arrange a meeting of Western Balkan nations, and President Halonen considered it significant that the region’s countries were themselves undertaking action to resolve existing problems. President Türk agreed: “The most important aspect of this process for the countries of the Western Balkans is that they are meeting at their own initiative, without outside influence. I believe that this is of great importance when considering the big picture.”

President Halonen said that Finland would welcome the countries of the former Yugoslavia into the European Union as soon as they fulfil its membership criteria.

Excellent relations

Both presidents noted the excellent relations that exist between Finland and Slovenia. President Türk, who is visiting Finland for the first time, said that the economic ties between the two could be developed further, however. On Tuesday, President Türk also participated in a forum on Finnish-Slovenian economic relations, visited the Eduskunta and gave a lecture at the Paasikivi Society.

On Wednesday 10 March, President Türk met with Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen as well as laid a wreath at the Hietaniemi cemetery.

• Speech by President  Tarja Halonen at a banquet in honour of President Danilo Türk of Slovenia
• Dinner in honour of the President of Slovenia

Photos