Nemški predsednik Steinmeier je predsednico Pirc Musar sprejel z vojaškimi častmi

Visit to Berlin reaffirms the friendship between Slovenia and Germany and the partnership for strengthening European values

The President of the Republic of Slovenia Nataša Pirc Musar was on a working visit to Berlin today to meet with the President of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The Slovenian President’s visit to Germany focused on current European and international issues, especially the war in Ukraine, the situation in the Western Balkans, climate diplomacy, and modern technological challenges.

Berlin, Germany, 9 Feb 2023

News

The main part of the talks focused on current European and international issues. President Pirc Musar and President Steinmeier discussed the war in Ukraine and the cooperation between countries in providing aid to the Ukrainian people. The two Presidents reaffirmed their support for Ukraine in its efforts to end Russian aggression and achieve peace.

Slovenia and Germany are friendly countries, political, economic and strategic partners and I am grateful to President Steinmeier for his hospitality and a frank discussion,” the Slovenian President said at the press conference following her meeting with her host, adding that she holds German President Steinmeier in high regard as a statesman.

The Slovenian and the German President also discussed the EU’s enlargement to the Western Balkans and the situation in the region. President Pirc Musar emphasised that she would continue the Brdo-Brijuni initiative and add non-ideological topics to be discussed, including the issue of youth emigration. President Pirc Musar sees the Berlin Process as a positive parallel to the Brdo-Brijuni initiative, and the two Presidents – also as leaders of the countries part of the trio Presidency of the EU Council – reaffirmed their personal commitment to helping the region adopt the necessary reforms and other measures on the path to EU membership.

They also touched on climate diplomacy, climate change and climate change adaptation, the importance of biodiversity, and the challenges of new technologies in relation to human rights, privacy and other worrying trends, including also the rapid spread of misinformation, hate speech and other content that leads to social polarisation.

Pogovor na štiri oči med predsednico Pirc Musar in predsednikom Steinmeierjem.

The working visit of the President of the Republic of Slovenia confirmed the friendship and partnership between the two countries and their leaders, who are committed to multilateralism and European values. »Our destinies are connected and the role of all countries in international relations matters and their active role is visible,« said President Pirc Musar, indicating that Slovenia wants to play an important and active role in adaptation to climate change and the transition to renewable energy sources, in promoting respect for human rights, and in encouraging and supporting the Western Balkan countries on their path towards the EU. »Germany is an important and close ally in our efforts and I am pleased to have been able to meet President Steinmeier so early in my presidential term and to exchange views on issues that are at the forefront of both his and my work,« said President Pirc Musar.

Economic diplomacy will also be an important part of President Pirc Musar’s foreign policy activities, and as part of today’s visit she also met with representatives of the German economy with a view to further strengthening economic cooperation in some new areas. Germany is one of Slovenia’s most important foreign trade partners and ranks fifth in terms of foreign direct investment in Slovenia. In 2021, Germany accounted for 16% of Slovenia’s total foreign trade. Relations between the two countries are excellent and there are no outstanding issues.

There is also lively cooperation in other areas, including in culture. Slovenia will be the guest of honour at this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair, which will be held from 17 to 22 October. The title of guest of honour is an important opportunity to showcase Slovenian literature, art and our artists to the German and global public. The President concluded her visit at the Neues Museum, where she visited exhibits of artefacts that had been found in the territory of present-day Slovenia.