by M.B., STA
We will be happy to congratulate the one who will be elected the next American president, said Prime Minister Janez Janša in response to a parliamentary question today. He emphasized that Slovenia has good strategic and partnership relations with the United States, regardless of which administration is in power. He recalled that the elections are not over yet.
»Slovenia cultivates good strategic and partnership relations with the United States, regardless of which administration is in power. In all the governments I have led, it has been so and will continue to be so in the future,« said Janša in the National Assembly in response to a parliamentary question from Marjan Šarc (LMŠ). Šarec asked the Prime Minister about his support for US President Donald Trump in light of his underestimation of the dangers of coronavirus.
Janša emphasized, however, that the elections are over when the other side admits defeat or when the official results are announced. »All that before is just politics. Some have decided to follow the media wave, and I have decided the opposite. We will see who was right, but I assure you that this will not affect relations between Slovenia and the United States in the future,« he said.
These relations could even improve, he said, as those who have clearly opposed steps towards establishing good relations with the US over the past six months have now changed their minds.
»I hope you will also unanimously support our offer to the United States to deploy a U.S. Army rotating unit in Slovenia and that you will support Slovenia’s commitment to more consistently fulfilling its obligations in NATO,« he added.
»The pro-American wave, which has occurred recently«, makes the prime minister extremely happy. »I can hardly imagine that one tweet can bring about such a positive change in the direction of friendship with the US. I hope this will last,« he said.
He also reminded of the situation before Slovenia’s independence, when the American administration also claimed that it would not recognize an independent Slovenia. »Those who claimed a few days before the attack on Slovenia that they would never recognize us, recognized us; some in half a year, and some in less than a year,« he stressed.