Review of Slovene International Activity in November 1997

Ljubljana, 5 December - REVIEW/SLOVENIA/WORLD/NOVEMBER
November was marked by strong foreign policy activity by Prime Minister Janez Drnovšek. Late last month, the premier paid his first state visit to Ireland (27 Nov.), meeting in Dublin with Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, who assured him Ireland's full support at the forthcoming EU Luxembourg summit for Slovenia's inclusion in the first round of membership negotiations. Drnovšek also met with President of the House of Representatives Seamus Pattison and Senate Speaker Brian Mullooly. Premier Ahern congratulated Slovenia for its election for a nonpermanent member of the UN Security Council. He offered Ljubljana technical assistance in the process of EU accession, in particular advice that Ireland can provide as a small EU member country. Drnovšek gave a lecture titled Slovenia and the EU: Prospects and Challenges at the Trinity College. He also attended a Liberal International congress in Oxford.