BILATERAL RELATIONS USA - SLOVENIA
The United States of America recognised the Republic of Slovenia on 7 April 1992, and established diplomatic relations on 11 August 1992.
The Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia was officially opened by a note of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 21 August 1992 in Washington. Slovenia also opened in the USA its Permanent Mission to the United Nations and a Consulate General in New York, and Honorary Consulates in Cleveland, Houston and Los Angeles.
The first representative of the Republic of Slovenia in the USA was Dr Ernest Petrič; the current ambassador of Slovenia to the USA; Dr Dimitrij Rupel, handed over his credentials on 12 November 1997.
The Embassy of the USA in Ljubljana was opened on 25 August 1992 by the then chargé d'affaires and later ambassador Allan Wendt. The second American ambassador, Victor Jackovich, handed over his letters of credence on 14 September 1995 and completed his term of office in February 1998. The new ambassador of the USA to the Republic of Slovenia is Nancy Halliday Ely-Raphel, who handed over her letters of credence on 2 September 1998.
Visas
In October 1997, the USA included Slovenia among the group of 26 countries for which the
two-year Visa Waiver Program applies, according to which Slovenian
citizens do not require tourist or business visas for a stay in the USA not exceeding a
period of 90 days. In April 1993, Slovenia unilaterally withdrew the visa requirement for
American citizens by a Government resolution.
Bilateral relations between the two countries have been developing successfully in all areas of cooperation. The candidacy of the Republic of Slovenia for Nato membership in the first round of expansion raised its profile considerably in the American political establishment. In addition, during this time the interest of the US administration in establishing an open political dialogue between the two countries was further increased. This is demonstrated among other things by a recent increase in bilateral meetings at the highest level.
With the visit of the American secretary of state Madeleine Albright in July 1997 to Ljubljana, bilateral relations have entered a new stage. The discussions which were initiated on that occasion marked - after the adoption of the Madrid resolutions - the beginning of a strengthened dialogue and partnership between the two countries.
The visit by the undersecretary of state Strobe Talbott to Ljubljana (16 March 1998), confirmed the preparedness of the USA for a continuation of a strengthened dialogue and partnership in dealing with issues of common interest. In this context - the context of a political dialogue and exchange of opinions - finding a solution to crises in Southeast Europe and on the territory of the former Yugoslavia is one of the central issues in this dialogue. The USA see Slovenia as their long-term partner in this area and as a future ally in the joint approach to establish stability in this area.
Important events related to the candidacy of Slovenia for Nato membership:
On 30 September 1996, President Clinton signed the NATO Enlargement and
Facilitation Act (NEFA 1996), in which Slovenia, in addition to Poland, Hungary
and the Czech Republic, was explicitly stated - although subject to certain conditions -
as one of the recipients of financial funding for activities to accelerate the adjustment
to Nato standards. On 1 January 1997 Slovenia was granted the right to use American
financial assistance for the process of preparations for full Nato membership.
At the end of January 1997, the Roth-Lieberman NATO resolution, which included Slovenia as a candidate for the first round of Nato enlargement, was proposed.
On 12 June 1997, the White House press spokesman, Mike McCurry, delivered the president's statement on American support of the inclusion of three countries in the first round of Nato enlargement. A similar statement was given by the American defense secretary William Cohen on the same day in Brussels at the meeting of Nato defense ministers.
In July 1997, the US Senate adopted the National Defense Authorisation Act for Fiscal Year 1998 and an amendment, which mentions Slovenia and Romania as promising countries for membership in the second round of Nato enlargement.
SECI - Southeastern European Cooperative Initiative: In 1996 the USA proposed strengthened economic cooperation in Southeast Europe, which would consequently lead to increased stability in this region. This is a non-formal forum, which includes different infrastructural and economic projects. In March 1997 Slovenia was included among the countries participating in SECI through the appointment of a national coordinator for SECI.
SEDM - Southeastern European Defense Ministerial: From October 1997, Slovenia has been participating in the activities of SEDM, i. e. meetings of the defense ministers of Southeast Europe. Within the framework of the cooperation of Southeast Europe defense ministers, Slovenia organised a meeting of chiefs of staff (from 22 to 24 July 1998), which was attended by the deputy commander of the joint chiefs of staff of the US armed forces, General Joseph Ralston.
Important visits by Slovenian representatives in the USA
During the regular assemblies of the WB and IMF (between 23 and 17 April 1994), the Slovenian finance minister, Mitja Gaspari, visited the USA, where he signed the Agreement on the Encouragement of Investment between the governments of the Republic of Slovenia and the USA (OPIC).
Slovenian prime minister Dr Janez Drnovšek was on a working visit to Washington between 8 and 10 May 1996. He was met by the American Vice President Al Gore, with whom he signed the Agreement on Protection and Preservation of Certain Cultural Objects and Goods. The prime minister also signed an Agreement on the Protection of Classified Military Information with the American defense secretary William Perry. Dr Janez Drnovšek also delivered a lecture on the international position of Slovenia, followed by a discussion, at the Nitze Advanced School of International Relations of Johns Hopkins University in Washington.
Between 2 and 7 May 1997, Dr Janez Drnovšek was on a working visit to Washington, where he met the US defense secretary William Cohen, national security advisor Sandy Berger and undersecretary of state Strobe Talbott. As the presiding member, Dr Janez Drnovšek opened the presentation conference of CEFTA in New York between 5 and 6 May 1997.
More information: http://www.uvi.si/cefta/
The Slovenian prime minister was also met by American secretary of state Madeleine Albright on 24 May 1997.
On 31 July 1997, the ambassador Dr Ernest Petrič awarded the former American defense secretary William Perry, on behalf of Milan Kučan, the president of the Republic of Slovenia, the golden honorary medal of freedom of the Republic of Slovenia for merits and personal contribution in the international recognition of Slovenia.
On
22 September
1997, Slovenian President Milan Kučan and American President Bill Clinton met in New
York. On this occasion, President Clinton officially notified the Slovenian president of
the resolution of the USA to welcome Slovenia, as the first from among the former
communist countries of Central and Southeast Europe, into the Visa Waiver Program.New York, September 1997
(Photo: BOBO)Slovenian
prime
minister Dr Janez Drnovšek was from 3 to 5 November 1998 in the USA on an official visit,
where he met President Bill Clinton, secretary of state Madeleine Albright and other
important American political representatives.New York, November 1997
(Photo: BOBO)
Important visits by American representatives in Slovenia
American ambassador to the UN Madeleine Albright visited Slovenia on 14 January 1994 as a special envoy of the US president.
Assistant secretary of state Richard Holbrooke visited Ljubljana on 6 September 1994.
American defense secretary William Perry was on an official visit to Slovenia between 16 and 17 September 1995.
Vice president of the foreign policy committee, senator Joseph Biden, visited Slovenia on 28 March 1997.
11 members of the House of Representatives visited Slovenia between 24 and 27 May 1997.
Former presidential candidate Bob Dole came on an official visit to Slovenia from 23 to 24 June 1997.
American secretary of state Madeleine Albright came on a working visit to Slovenia on 12 July 1997.
Strobe Talbott, undersecretary of state, visited Ljubljana on 16 March 1998.
Deputy commander of the joint chiefs of staff of the US armed forces, General Joseph Ralston, visited Ljubljana on 22 June 1998.