Slovenian FM Hands Over EU Presidency to French Counterpart

Nova Gorica, 30 June - Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel symbolically handed over the EU presidency to his French counterpart Bernard Kouchner on Monday, the last day of Slovenia's six-month stint as EU president, at a ceremony in the square joining Slovenia's Nova Gorica and Italy's Gorizia.

Nova Gorica
A ceremony marking Slovenia's handover of the EU presidency to France.
Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA

Nova Gorica
Aceremony marking Slovenia's handover of the EU presidency to France.
Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA

Nova Gorica
Aceremony marking Slovenia's handover of the EU presidency to France.
Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA

Nova Gorica
Aceremony marking Slovenia's handover of the EU presidency to France.
Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA

Nova Gorica
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner (left) and his Slovenian counterpart Dimitrij Rupel at a ceremony marking Slovenia's handover of the EU presidency to France.
Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA

Nova Gorica
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner (left) and his Slovenian counterpart Dimitrij Rupel at a ceremony marking Slovenia's handover of the EU presidency to France.
Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA

Nova Gorica
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner (right) and his Slovenian counterpart Dimitrij Rupel at a ceremony marking Slovenia's handover of the EU presidency to France.
Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA

Nova Gorica
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner (right) and his Slovenian counterpart Dimitrij Rupel at a ceremony marking Slovenia's handover of the EU presidency to France.
Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA

Nova Gorica
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner (left) and his Slovenian counterpart Dimitrij Rupel at a ceremony marking Slovenia's handover of the EU presidency to France.
Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA

Nova Gorica
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner (left) and his Slovenian counterpart Dimitrij Rupel at a ceremony marking Slovenia's handover of the EU presidency to France.
Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA

Nova Gorica
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner at a ceremony marking Slovenia's handover of the EU presidency to France.
Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA

Nova Gorica
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner at a ceremony marking Slovenia's handover of the EU presidency to France.
Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA

Nova Gorica
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner (left) and his Slovenian counterpart Dimitrij Rupel (centre) and Nova Gorica Mayor Mirko Brulc at a ceremony marking Slovenia's handover of the EU presidency to France.
Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA

Nova Gorica
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner (left) and his Slovenian counterpart Dimitrij Rupel at a ceremony marking Slovenia's handover of the EU presidency to France.
Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA

Nova Gorica
Aceremony marking Slovenia's handover of the EU presidency to France.
Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA

Nova Gorica
Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel (left) at a ceremony marking Slovenia's handover of the EU presidency to France.
Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA

Nova Gorica
Aceremony marking Slovenia's handover of the EU presidency to France.
Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA

Nova Gorica
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner (left) and his Slovenian counterpart Dimitrij Rupel at a ceremony marking Slovenia's handover of the EU presidency to France.
Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA

Nova Gorica
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner at a ceremony marking Slovenia's handover of the EU presidency to France.
Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA

Nova Gorica
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner (left) and his Slovenian counterpart Dimitrij Rupel at a ceremony marking Slovenia's handover of the EU presidency to France.
Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA

Nova Gorica
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner at a ceremony marking Slovenia's handover of the EU presidency to France.
Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA

Nova Gorica
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner at a ceremony marking Slovenia's handover of the EU presidency to France.
Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA

Nova Gorica
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner (left) and his Slovenian counterpart Dimitrij Rupel at a ceremony marking Slovenia's handover of the EU presidency to France.
Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA

Nova Gorica
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner (left) and his Slovenian counterpart Dimitrij Rupel at a ceremony marking Slovenia's handover of the EU presidency to France.
Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA

Nova Gorica
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner at a ceremony marking Slovenia's handover of the EU presidency to France.
Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA

Nova Gorica
Aceremony marking Slovenia's handover of the EU presidency to France.
Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA

Nova Gorica
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner (left) and his Slovenian counterpart Dimitrij Rupel at a ceremony marking Slovenia's handover of the EU presidency to France.
Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA

Nova Gorica
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner (left) and his Slovenian counterpart Dimitrij Rupel at a ceremony marking Slovenia's handover of the EU presidency to France.
Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA

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© STA, 2008