France Supports Slovenia's Bid to Join the EU and NATO

Paris, 23 April - French President Jacques Chirac assured Slovene Prime Minister Janez Drnovsek that France without restraint supports Slovenia in its bid to join international institutions, chiefly the EU and NATO. Drnovsek, who on Monday afternoon started his four-day visit to Paris accompanied by Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, said that he and Chirac agreed that bilateral relations have progressed well and that economic exchange has increased, while cultural exchange could be better. The French President also promised to pay a visit to Slovenia.