[Slovenian foreign minister] Mr [Dimitrij] Rupel said: “We in Slovenia believe that it is high time for the Yugoslav crisis to end — a crisis that began in 1991 when [former Yugoslav leader Slobodan] Milosevic attacked Slovenia. We see the solution in EU enlargement.” He added: “We are hopeful that during the Slovenian presidency EU agreements will be signed with the entire western Balkan region.”

[Slovenia to force Kosovo back to top of EU agenda - Times Online]

For those unfamiliar with the country: Slovenia is a country of 2 million on the Northwestern end of what was Yugoslavia. Earlier, for long centuries, most of it was part of Austria.

Slovenia is mostly in the Alps, and more resembles Austria than its Southeastern neighour Croatia. The country was former Yugoslavia's richest federal state, and was also clearly in the best state economically among the EU's former East Bloc members. The country adopted the Euro a year ago.

Slovenia's relatively stable politics were long dominated by a liberal party (one with strong social liberal characteristics, but also ex-reformed-communist members), while the right-wing was also relatively civilised, and there are Social Democrats too. Current prime minister Janez Janša heads a centre-right government that has to face elections in October this year, and it's chances don't look too good, as indicated by the election of opposition candidate Danilo Türk for President last November.