tovaris
June 24th, 2014, 03:45 PM
The United States has expressed concern over the planned visit by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to Slovenia in early July, the daily Dnevnik reports on Tuesday.
The US Embassy in Ljubljana has let Slovenia know that with the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, this is not the best time to host a visit by a high-ranking Russian official, the paper writes.
Lavrov is scheduled to visit Slovenia on 8 July to take part in the opening of a memorial to Soviet prisoners of war in Maribor and to meet his Slovenian counterpart Karl Erjavec.
The South Stream pipeline project is expected to top the talks between the foreign ministers, as the two countries attempt to smooth out any differences on its implementation.
The Foreign Ministry has confirmed that US diplomats have inquired about the visit by the Russian foreign minister.
They have also voiced the view to Slovenian diplomats that the visit was sending a wrong message about the EU position on Russia in the ongoing crisis, Dnevnik says quoting well-placed sources.
US Charge D'Affairs in Ljubljana David Burger confirmed US concerns about the visit for Dnevnik, telling the paper that the circumstances were not right for a visit of its kind.
If the visit does take place, Burger hopes that the Slovenian government will use the occasion to express its stance on events in Ukraine.
Dnevnik suggests South Stream is also behind the opposition to the visit, arguing that the project runs contrary to US strategic interests.
Meanwhile, Slovenia is trying to use the visit to solidify its role in South Stream.
A joint venture was established by the two countries in 2011, but a recent agreement between Russia and Austria has raised questions about whether Russia would divert the course through Austria.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is paying an official visit to Austria today.
Slovenia wants to see the pipeline pass through its territory and the meeting with Lavrov is expected to be an opportunity to discuss any outstanding issues related to the project, Dnevnik says.
http://www.sloveniatimes.com/us-concerned-over-planned-visit-by-russian-fm
The US Embassy in Ljubljana has let Slovenia know that with the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, this is not the best time to host a visit by a high-ranking Russian official, the paper writes.
Lavrov is scheduled to visit Slovenia on 8 July to take part in the opening of a memorial to Soviet prisoners of war in Maribor and to meet his Slovenian counterpart Karl Erjavec.
The South Stream pipeline project is expected to top the talks between the foreign ministers, as the two countries attempt to smooth out any differences on its implementation.
The Foreign Ministry has confirmed that US diplomats have inquired about the visit by the Russian foreign minister.
They have also voiced the view to Slovenian diplomats that the visit was sending a wrong message about the EU position on Russia in the ongoing crisis, Dnevnik says quoting well-placed sources.
US Charge D'Affairs in Ljubljana David Burger confirmed US concerns about the visit for Dnevnik, telling the paper that the circumstances were not right for a visit of its kind.
If the visit does take place, Burger hopes that the Slovenian government will use the occasion to express its stance on events in Ukraine.
Dnevnik suggests South Stream is also behind the opposition to the visit, arguing that the project runs contrary to US strategic interests.
Meanwhile, Slovenia is trying to use the visit to solidify its role in South Stream.
A joint venture was established by the two countries in 2011, but a recent agreement between Russia and Austria has raised questions about whether Russia would divert the course through Austria.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is paying an official visit to Austria today.
Slovenia wants to see the pipeline pass through its territory and the meeting with Lavrov is expected to be an opportunity to discuss any outstanding issues related to the project, Dnevnik says.
http://www.sloveniatimes.com/us-concerned-over-planned-visit-by-russian-fm