DATE=11/4/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241192
TITLE=U-S/SLOVENIA (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS HELD TALKS AT THE WHITE HOUSE WITH 
SLOVENIA'S VISITING PRIME MINISTER JANEZ DRNOVSEK.  THEY 
DISCUSSED EUROPEAN SECURITY ISSUES, INCLUDING SLOVENIA'S 
MEMBERSHIP BID FOR NATO.  CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS 
FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT:  IT WAS THE FIRST VISIT TO THE WHITE HOUSE BY A SLOVENIAN 
LEADER SINCE THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC BECAME INDEPENDENT 
SEVEN-YEARS AGO.  MR. DRNOVSEK TOLD REPORTERS IT CONFIRMED THE 
HIGH LEVEL OF ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL TIES AND WHAT THE STRATEGIC 
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.

SLOVENIA SUFFERED A MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT LAST YEAR WHEN IT WAS 
LEFT OUT OF THE FIRST PHASE OF NATO EXPANSION, WHICH BROUGHT ITS 
NEIGHBOR HUNGARY, ALONG WITH POLAND AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC INTO 
THE ALLIANCE.

U-S OFFICIALS SAY SLOVENIA -- WITH A SMALL BUT EFFICIENT MILITARY
AND THE HIGHEST PER-CAPITA INCOME OF FORMERLY COMMUNIST CENTRAL 
EUROPE -- REMAINS A PRIME CANDIDATE WHEN NATO EXPANDS AGAIN.

THE PRIME MINISTER SAID MR. CLINTON REAFFIRMED THE ALLIES' 
OPEN-DOOR POLICY TOWARD FURTHER EXPANSION:

                   /// DRNOVSEK ACTUALITY ///

         I WAS GLAD TO HEAR THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON CONSIDERS 
         SLOVENIA AS THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR THE NEXT ENLARGEMENT 
         OF NATO AND THAT HE ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THE OPEN-DOOR 
         POLICY OF NATO WILL CONTINUE AS IT WAS DECLARED IN THE 
         LAST SUMMIT IN MADRID.

                        /// END ACT /// 

ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS SAY SLOVENIA REMAINS AN ATTRACTIVE 
CANDIDATE FOR NATO MEMBERSHIP BECAUSE OF A NUMBER OF FACTORS.  
THESE INCLUDE ITS LOCATION, THE FACT IT HAS NO DISPUTES OF 
CONSEQUENCE WITH ITS NEIGHBORS OR INTERNAL ETHNIC CONFLICTS, AND 
IS MODERNIZING ITS ARMED FORCES TO NATO STANDARDS. 

ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS SAID THE TALKS ALSO COVERED SLOVENIA'S 
AMBITIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE EUROPEAN UNION, AND OTHER 
EUROPEAN SECURITY ISSUES INCLUDING BOSNIA AND LAST MONTH'S U-S 
MEDIATED AGREEMENT AIMED AT A SETTLEMENT IN KOSOVO.   (SIGNED)

NEB/DAG/LTD/RAE

04-Nov-98 1:23 PM EST (1823 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.