Minister Rupel passes the Presidency of the EU Council on to the French Foreign Minister Kouchner

A ceremony on the occasion of the assumption of the Presidency of the EU Council by France took place in Nova Gorica, Trg Evrope (Europe Square) this afternoon. The Presidency will pass from Slovenia to France today at midnight. In the square, which also witnessed Slovenia's EU accession on 1 May 2004, the President of the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council and Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel passed the symbolic baton which he received six months ago from the Portuguese Minister, Luis Amado, on to his successor, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner. In the square, on the Slovenian side of the symbol marking the spot which once divided Gorica from Nova Gorica, the Slovenian Foreign Minister was the first to address the audience with the following words: Dear Minister Kouchner, I would like to... [read full story]