NATO Secretary General pays first bilateral visit to Slovenia
The NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, travelled to Slovenia on 13 November in an introductory visit as the new head of the Alliance.
Secretary General Rasmussen and the Slovenian Prime Minister Borut Pahor discussed the challenges and the way ahead for the mission in Afghanistan, as well as the situation in the Western Balkans.
In a joint press conference with Prime Minister Pahor, Rasmussen said that the way forward in Afghanistan is to transfer responsibility to the Afghans and to make sure that the country doesn't become again a safe haven from where to launch attacks on Europe and North America.
"We are primarily in Afghanistan for our own security," he stressed.
Regarding the Western Balkans, the Secretary General said that "it is my vision to see all countries in that region one day integrated in our Euro-Atlantic structures." He emphasised that any process of integration needs to be merit-based. "NATO's presence in the Western Balkans has been a great success," he said.
Rasmussen also met with the Slovenian President Dr Danilo Türk. Their discussion focused on the ongoing work of shaping a new Strategic Concept for the Alliance and the prospects in the Western Balkans.
The Secretary General also held talks with the Slovenian Foreign Minister Samuel Žbogar and Defence Minister Dr Ljubica Jelušič.
Moreover, the Secretary General opened the second Strategic Concept seminar in Brdo this morning.