Ljubljana Life Interview:
U.S. President Bill Clinton: June 14, 1999

by fred michael liss and william g. wagner

Ljubljana Life's exclusive interview with US President Bill Clinton was a collaborative effort between the publisher William Wagner and editor Fred Liss. The visit by President Clinton to Slovenia on June 21st and 22nd was an extraordinary event by any measure. It was the first visit by an American president to the young republic, an event which generated an unprecedented level of media attention in this small nation of just 2 million people. Here is what the President had to say about the nature of his trip in his own words, including his views on the situation in Kosovo and the important role that Slovenia plays in helping to promote regional peace and stability.

1. Mr. President, what is the nature of your trip to Slovenia?

I will have the honor of being the first American President to set foot in independent Slovenia. Your President and Prime Minister have visited the United States. I want to reciprocate their visits to demonstrate my commitment to our continued partnership and friendship.

We have witnessed a steady deepening and strengthening of the ties between our two nations since Slovenian independence in 1991. I believe that U.S.-Slovenian relations will continue to develop progressively in the years ahead and that my visit will contribute to that.

I also want to thank the people of Slovenia personally for their country's stalwart support for NATO on Kosovo, and its contributions to regional security.

Slovenia is a success story -- one the world should know about. It is part of the solution in Southeastern Europe.

We will discuss durable solutions for the region, as well as the role Slovenia can play in these efforts, including the Stability Pact.

I also want my visit to underscore our commitment to working with Slovenia toward full membership in Euro-Atlantic political1 economic, and security structures, including NATO.

2. What does your Administration believe is the key to maintaining long-term economic stability for the countries of the former Yugoslavia?

The key to long-term economic stability for the countries of the former Yugoslavia is their successful integration into the European mainstream, and ultimately into the European Union.

To reach that goal, substantial market reform and economic restructuring is needed in countries of the former Yugoslavia. So is political stability. And that in turn, requires democracy and respect for the rights of ethnic and religious minorities.

Some countries are clearly further ahead than others. Slovenia has made enough progress to be included in the "first wave" of EU candidates. Slovenia's future will be affected by the future of other countries in the region. That is why we all have a stake in all the nations of the region achieving their potential.

3. How is the United States offering to help in furthering peace and prosperity in the region?

For the last decade, as the people of Slovenia know well, the greatest threat to the peace of the region has been the savage campaign of aggression and ethnic slaughter conducted by President Milosevic of Serbia. With our NATO allies, the United States stopped ethnic cleansing in Bosnia and now we have reversed it in Kosovo. We have worked with our allies and partners to keep the peace and to build a better future in Bosnia. We will do the same in Kosovo so that the people of that troubled land can also have security and self-government.

We will also work with our European partners and the countries of the region to put in place a plan for lasting peace and stability through all the Balkans. Our goal is to do for southeastern Europe what we did for western Europe after World War II and central Europe after the Cold War. -- to help its people build a region of multiethnic democracies, a community that upholds standards of human rights, a community in which borders are open to people in trade, where nations cooperate to make war unthinkable.

We have been working to help the countries of the region to consolidate democratic reform, and build professional armed forces under civilian control. We are working with the European Union and the international financial institutions to mobilize support. And we have conditioned this help, just as we did with Western Europe 50 years ago, on closer cooperation among the beneficiaries and a new understanding of their sovereignty.

We understand that this will take constant, steady American engagement, together with our European allies, old and new. It will demand keeping institutions, including NATO and the European Union, open to new nations who make the right choices. It will take money in the form of investment and aid. It will require a willingness to provide material and moral support to people and leaders across the region who are standing up for multiethnic democracy. Realistically, it will require a democratic transition in Serbia, for the region's democracies will never be safe with a belligerent tyranny in their midst.

4. Outside investment is obviously the key to the future of the region -- do you expect future increases in U.S. investment in the region?

Outside investment is essential to the economic success of Southeast Europe.

The United States is convinced, along with its European partners, that we need to do more to encourage investment in Southeast Europe. This will be a key agenda item for the TransAtlantic Business Dialogue at the US-EU Summit. The keys to attracting foreign investment, however, are the policies the countries in Southeast Europe adopt to create more open markets, strong financial institutions and transparency in governance.

5. Does the U.S. see Slovenia playing an important role in the region, politically and economically?

Our most important challenge in Europe is to extend stability, democracy, prosperity, and human rights to all the people and countries of Europe. The United States sees Slovenia as a key partner with much to contribute.

Slovenia already has demonstrated its ability to deliver solutions to global and regional problems -- as a positive and creative force on the UN Security Council; as a firm supporter of our efforts to bring peace to Kosovo; as a contributor to stabilization efforts in the countries of the former Yugoslavia and Albania; and as a leader in the critical project of demining Bosnia and surrounding areas.

Eight years after independence, Slovenia has made tremendous progress establishing democratic institutions, enshrining respect for human rights, establishing a market economy, and adapting its military to European standards.

Slovenia's political and economic progress, geographic position, and experience and insights into the former Yugoslavia, make it a model and bridge to the region.

6. What can you tell us about Slovenia's prospects for NATO membership?

Slovenia has taken strong steps in preparing for NATO membership. NATO's door remains open, and -- if Slovenia continues energetically down the path it is following -- I believe it is likely to realize its aspirations.

At the Washington Summit, the Alliance committed itself to a review of enlargement at its next summit, no later than 2002. The United States and its Allies are ready to help all aspiring members, including Slovenia, in their efforts to prepare for membership.

I am firmly committed to this.

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