Prime Minister,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Prime Minister, it is always a pleasure to welcome a good friend to Norway.

I have the very best memories from my visit to Slovenia last October. At the beautiful Castle of Bled I was struck by how the history of the Castle reflects the history of Europe. How European nations and peoples, over centuries of trade, travel, peace and war, together have woven the great and varied tapestry that is the continent of Europe.

Now it is my turn, and my very great pleasure, to repay your hospitality.

I feel that these visits have established friendships that will form a solid foundation for our future co-operation. Machiavelli said that states have interests, not friends. John Stuart Mill, on the other hand, said that, “The worth of a State, in the long run, is the worth of the individuals composing it.” I believe that such states, bound together by individuals working in friendship and with common interests, are a better prospect for the future.

We are now partners in NATO. It was a pleasure to see you at the NATO Summit in Istanbul just a couple of days ago. The Alliance has been strengthened by your country’s membership.

I would also like to congratulate you on your membership of the European Union. The enlargement of the EU by 10 new countries is a historic event for Europe.

Your EU membership has brought our two countries closer together. We are partners through the Agreement on the European Economic Area and the Schengen Agreement. Let us translate this new partnership into concrete, tangible activities.

We are looking forward to Slovenia’s chairmanship of the OSCE.

The Norwegian and Slovenian peoples have many things in common. One of them is football. I have been told that when Slovenia qualified for the 2002 Football World Cup, many fans sold their cars and other valuable possessions just so that they could fly to Korea and Japan to support their heroes. In October, Norway and Slovenia will be meeting here in Oslo for the first qualifying match of the football World Cup 2005. I hereby welcome all those fans who still have their cars to come and watch the game!

And may the best team win...

When I was in Slovenia last year, I suggested that you should try sea fishing in our waters while you are here. Tomorrow you will go fishing in the Oslo Fjord. Unfortunately I can’t wish you good luck in this particular activity, because in Norway it is considered bad luck to do so and could result in your not catching anything!

Prime Minister,

Let us continue our co-operation and further strengthen the ties between Norway and Slovenia in the years to come.

I raise my glass to you, Prime Minister, and ask all those present to join me in a toast to the happiness and prosperity of the people of Slovenia.

Thank you.