Visit of Lord Roberson to Slovenia
"Involvement Is Better Than Isolation," Robertson Tells Slovenians
10 March 2003
"My message to Slovenians is that involvement is better than
isolation," NATO Secretary General George Robertson told the
press on Monday, after meeting Prime Minister Anton Rop. Robertson
explained that as a NATO member Slovenia will help shape the future,
rather than just being a spectator.
Robertson believes that the voters who will be deciding on
Slovenia's entry into NATO at 23 March referendum should not pay too
much attention to the current developments in the world in which NATO
is not directly involved. He pointed out that NATO is not directly
involved in the Iraqi crisis, but has merely, in line with the
Washington Treaty, taken measures to protect one of its members,
namely Turkey. Although some NATO members are in favour of extending
the UN inspectors' mandate in Iraq, while some members are against it,
NATO has no role in the debate on Iraq that is underway in the UN,
stressed Lord Robertson, adding that "NATO will not take part in
any operation in Iraq". In his view, the Iraqi crisis should have
no bearing on what decision Slovenian voters make at the upcoming
referendum.
The NATO official warned that the referendum decision will not only
affect this generation, but many future generations as well. "It
is better to sit at the table where decisions are being made about the
future security than just watch this process through the window,"
Robertson argued in favour of Slovenia's membership of NATO.
|
