2002 Could Be the Most Important Year for Independent Slovenia, Says Rupel

Ljubljana, 13 March - This year could be one of the most important years in the history of Slovenia, particularly in the history of the country since it gained independence in 1991, said Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, explaining that Slovenia expects to complete full-fledged membership negotiations with the EU this year and it could well happen that it would receive an invitation to join NATO at the Alliance's summit in November. Rupel spoke about Euro-Atlantic institutions and Slovenia's bid to join them at a meeting of a management agency on Wednesday.