Slovenia in the world

Introduction

On 25 June 2006 Slovenia is celebrating the fifteenth anniversary of its independence. Fifteen years is not a long time in a country's history, but for Slovenia it was long enough for some noteworthy achievements. As a member of the EU and the North-Atlantic alliance, Slovenia now belongs in the safe and developed part of the world. It has also grown economically. With its current speed of development it will soon reach - and surpass - the average European GDP per capita. This gives it an excellent standpoint from which to establish itself in its immediate neighbourhood, in Europe, and globally. Especially important are the opportunities for partnerships and cooperation within the new EU and NATO environment, as well as in Council of Europe, the OSCE, the UN and in numerous regional organizations, in which Slovenia has been constructively participating in economic and political reforms, stabilisation processes and helping the Western Balkan countries on their path towards the EU and NATO.

Slovenia will doubtless continue its economic, scientific and cultural achievements that will take her to the level of the most developed countries. But to get to that, Slovenia will have to make sure that the conditions necessary for the establishment of individuals in the current European and global economic, scientific and cultural fields are met. Rather than looking back, Slovenia will have to turn to the future - the future of its nation, of Europe, and of the world. Only competition and juxtaposition of ideas and projects in an interaction with the modern global trends can ensure a development that is at the same time fast and sustainable. We also cannot forget that the international community, especially the EU and NATO, expect Slovenia to help and assist those countries of Western Balkans with which it shares 73 years of history under the wings of one state. With its deep knowledge of the region and its level of development, as well as highest integration into the Euro-Atlantic structures of all the countries in the region, it can do this task to a mutual benefit of all.

The Meaning of the Past Fifteen Years

As the most developed republic of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Slovenia has always been turned towards the West and the North of Europe. The proof are its economic ties, as over 60 percent of Slovene export has always been directed to the EU member states such as Italy, Austria, and Germany; later also to the US, France, Great Britain, the Netherlands, and the Scandinavian countries. Today Slovenia is establishing a very versatile system of economic relations, which involves also the fast developing Russian Federation and countries in Asia, especially China, India, Japan, and South Korea. Slovenia is thus opening itself to the world and going into the world.

The developments at the end of 1990 and in the first half of 1991 represent the biggest turning point in Slovenia's recent history. The plebiscite on Slovene independence on 23 December 1990, where of 1,460,005 eligible voters 1,358,302 or 92.2 percent came to vote, and 1,288,043 voted for independence. On the basis of constitutional amendments and the plebiscite, Slovenia was declared independent on 25 June 1991. This represented the fulfilment of a thousand-year-old Slovene dream of having its own state. What followed was an international recognition of the new state, the UN membership (on 22 May 1992) and membership in other international organizations - the OSCE, the Council of Europe, UNICEF etc., and finally, on 1 May 2004, the EU and NATO memberships. With membership of the UN, the OSCE, the EU and NATO, Slovenia got the possibility to take part in decision making process relating to its own destiny and at the same time that of the destiny of Europe and the world - it thus achieved what it was not able to after the First and the Second World Wars. It presented itself to the world as a democratic, well developed and ambitious country, capable of playing a role in the wider international community. For all these reasons Slovenia was entrusted with presiding over the UN Security Council in August 1998 and November 1999, the OSCE in 2005, and with its upcoming presidency of the European Union in the first half of 2008. Slovenia is also currently holding the presidency of the Human Security Network. All of this is proof that Slovenia has the trust of the international community, as well as the expectation that Slovenia will make its own contribution in the efforts towards peace and prosperity for all humankind.

To ensure its own development and to fulfil the expectations of the international community, Slovenia had to quickly put its own affairs in order and present itself to the world. In order to do that, a gradual development of its diplomacy and armed forces was necessary. These are elements of statehood that in this day and age are just as indispensable as ever. The current global situation still requires each country to ensure its own existence, safety, and development; only then can it contribute - in line with its capabilities - to global peace and prosperity.

The modern world is full of contradictions that are increasing. The global gap between the rich and the poor is widening together with the increase in population and migratory flows. We are creating replacements for natural resources that are running out, such as nuclear energy created with fusion. There is an ongoing struggle for basic resources, such as water, unpolluted soil, food, and energy. With its two million inhabitants on 20.000 square kilometres, Slovenia is still self sufficient, but it too will have to think about its future needs. This is a task for all countries of this world, the developed and the less developed ones. The world has become one global, tightly intertwined whole, where a change in one of its corners affects what happens in another. In such reality, Slovenia was wise when it chose to be independent as well as integrated with the developed part of the world in which it belongs, while not forgetting to help that part of the world that has not been as fortunate.

Prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs