Slovenia's role in the West Balkans

In an article on Slovenia's foreign policy in the countries of the former Yugoslavia, Ernest Petrič, a Slovenian Constitutional Court judge and long-time diplomat, writes that the West Balkans are of vital economic and political importance for Slovenia. "In 1997, after the Dayton Agreement, a situation arose that allowed us to turn our backs on our previous policy regarding the Balkans. Before that we had cogent reasons to act as though we had nothing to do with this region. Here at home we had peace, our country was suitable for investment and cooperation. The war was taking place to the south, we reasoned. Then we came to the realisation that our vital economic and political interests lie to the south, and that we need an active policy with regard to the Balkans. ... This is the only region in the world where Slovenia - because of our common history and the advantages we have there - can play an important role. Stability and prosperity in the region are extremely important for Slovenia. ... We must not be an object of the interests of others, but a subject, and by that I mean a partner for others."

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