Mexico–Slovenia relations

Mexico — Slovenia relations

Map indicating locations of Slovenia and Mexico
Slovenia	Mexico

Slovenia – Mexico relations refers to interstate relations between Slovenia and Mexico.

History

Mexico was the first Latin American country to recognise independent and sovereign Slovenia on 22 May 1992. Diplomatic relations were established on the same day when Slovenian President Milan Kucan and former Mexican President Carlos Salinas exchanged official letters.^[1]

In 1998, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia, Dimitrij Rupel, declared that there are deep bilateral relations between his country and Mexico, and that Slovenia will support Mexico in any international forum, since Mexico is part of the North American Free Trade Agreement, which provides opportunities to increase commerce and investments.^[2]

Since 1999 both countries abolished visas for visitors from each other's countries.^[1]

In August 2003, Mexico City hosted the first session of the Mixed Commission for Cooperation in the fields of Education and Culture between the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and the Government of the United Mexican States. Both sides underlined that the session of the Mixed Commission presented a good opportunity for the establishment of foundations for mutual relations in the fields of education, science, culture and sport, as well as for reflection on the role of international co-operation as a factor for social change and as an essential means for the realisation of global and sustainable development of countries. To this end, the signatories started a programme of cooperation for the period 2003 to 2007, in which the two countries agreed on mutual collaboration in the fields of primary, secondary, post-secondary and higher education; scholarship and residential exchange programmes.^[3]

Slovenia planned to open a consulate in Mexico in 2009.^[4]

Bilateral visits

• In August 1996 Ignac Golob, the Slovenian State Secretary to the Foreign Ministry visited Mexico. In September of the same year Mexican Deputy Foreign Minister Juan Rebolledo Gouto was to have visited Slovenia but the visit was canceled.^[1]
• On October 1, 1998 Janez Drnovsek, the Prime Minister of Slovenia had his first official visit to Mexico where he met with Ernesto Zedillo.^[1][5][6][7]
• On January 5, 2003 Janez Drnovsek met with Ernesto Zedillo, former Mexican President for a second time to discuss "developments in international affairs and their influence on the processes of globalisation." They focused on Euroatlantic relations and the War in Iraq.^[8][9]

Trade

Total trade in 1997 was US$ 6.86 million with Slovenia having a US$ 2 million trade surplus with Mexico. In the first six months of 1998 Slovenia's exports to Mexico were US$ 2.1 million, while imports imports from Mexico were US$ 2.4 million.^[1] Slovenia is also a member of the EU which is Mexico's second biggest export market after the USA. The EU and Mexico have concluded a Free Trade Agreement which entered into force in October 2000.^[10] Slovenia was incorporated into this agreement in 2005.^[11]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Prime Minister Drnovsek in Mexico". Slovenian Press Agency. http://www.gzs.si/sbw/head.asp?idc=697. Retrieved 2009-11-30. 
2. ^ Press Release 913, National Palace, June 3, 1998
3. ^ "Conclusion of Session of the Mixed Commission for Co-operation in the Fields of Education and Culture between Slovenia and Mexico". Slovenia. http://www.mzz.gov.si/nc/en/tools/cns/news/article/999/9476/. Retrieved 2009-11-30. 
4. ^ "Slovenia opening consulates in Peru, Mexico". BBC archive. March 27, 2009. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NewsLibrary&p_multi=BBAB&d_place=BBAB&p_theme=newslibrary2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=12732D56C6E3F250&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. Retrieved 2009-12-6. 
5. ^ "Press Release 1078". Mexico. http://zedillo.presidencia.gob.mx/welcome/bulletins/b1078.htm. Retrieved 2009-11-30. "President Ernesto Zedillo welcomed His Excellency Janez Drnovsek, Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia ..." 
6. ^ "Premier Drnovsek to Pay Official Visit to Mexico". Slovenian Press Agency. September 30, 1998. http://www.sta.si/vest.php?s=a&id=364446. Retrieved 2009-11-30. "Slovene Prime Minister Janez Drnovsek will travel to Mexico for an official visit on Wednesday, after having addressed the UN General Assembly in New York. Drnovsek was invited to pay a visit by President of Mexico Ernesto Zedillo." 
7. ^ "Mexico y Eslovenia.(Nacional)". Reforma (México D.F., México). October 03, 1998. http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-1610379_ITM. Retrieved 2009-12-06. 
8. ^ "Premier Drnovsek to Pay Official Visit to Mexico". Slovenian Press Agency. January 25, 2003. http://www.sta.si/en/vest.php?s=a&id=705873. Retrieved 2009-11-30. "In a separate meeting between President Drnovsek and former Mexican President Ernest Zedillo, who now heads the Yale Centre for the Study of Globalisation, the discussion focused on the current developments in international affairs and their influence on the processes of globalisation." 
9. ^ "President Drnovšek's first bilateral meetings at the World Economic Forum". 01/25/2003. http://www2.gov.si/up-rs/2002-2007/jd-ang.nsf/dokumentiweb/7EE9B54F554F0429C1256F930041624D?OpenDocument. Retrieved 2009-12-06. 
10. ^ European Commission: Trade : Mexico (Bilateral relations)
11. ^ Additional Protocol to the Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the United Mexican States, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia, and the Slovak Republic to the European Union