Political Affairs

charge d'affairs a.i.: Luka Kovačec

Links:

For more information please go to:

http://www.ukom.gov.si/eng/slovenia/in-brief/state/

Recent visits by Canadian dignitaries and representatives to Slovenia:

August 2010 - Peter MacKay, Minister for Defence
July 2010 - Peter van Loan, Minister for International Trade
October 2009 - Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada
May 2009 - Noël A. Kinsella, Speaker of the Senate
December 2008 - Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada
January 2008 - David Plunkettm, director general for trade policy and Alain Hausser, director of the EU division, DFAIT
November 2007 – Dan Costello, director general for Western Europe and EU, DFAIT
September 2007 – Members of Parliament: David Tilson, Louis Temelkovski and Francine Lalonde and Senators Lorna Milne and Yoine Goldsetin visited Slovenia
October 2006 – Tom MacDonald, director general for Central and Eastern European Countries and Scandinavia, DFAIT
September 2006 – Gordon O’Connor, Minister of Defence attended informal meeting of NATO ministers in Portorož
September 2005 – Peter Milliken, Speaker of Parliament

Recent visits by Slovenian dignitaries to Canada:

Januar 2010 - Dr. Patrick Vlacic, minister for transport
October 2009 - Dr. Bostjan Zeks, Minister for Slovenians abroad
November 2007 – Zorko Pelikan, Secretary of State
November 2006 – France Cukjati, Speaker of Parliament
December 2005 – Janez Podobnik, Minister of the Environment
May 2005 – dr. Rupel, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Canada-Slovenia Relations

DFAIT release last updated: July 2010

Bilateral Relations

Canada has excellent relations with Slovenia. Canada recognized Slovenian independence in January 1992, and established diplomatic relations a year later. There are approximately 40,000 Canadians of Slovenian origin. Slovenia has an Embassy in Ottawa and honorary consuls in Toronto, Vancouver and Moncton. Canada's Ambassador to Slovenia is resident in Budapest, Hungary. It is assisted by an honorary consul in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Multilateral Cooperation

Canada and Slovenia often seek shared goals due to a common commitment to multilateralism and the rule of law. Canada and Slovenia work together particularly in the Human Security Network. Slovenia is a strong supporter of the Ottawa landmines process.

Defence

Slovenia joined NATO on April 1 2004; Slovenia's membership in NATO has led to close cooperation between our defence forces. Slovenian troops were deployed alongside Canadian forces in Afghanistan in 2003, and were the first non-Canadian recipients of the Canadian General Campaign Star, in February 2006.

Development

Canada had a modest technical cooperation program in Slovenia during the 1990s with a total disbursement of $580,000. When Slovenia entered the EU in 2004 and made a commitment to becoming an aid donor, it joined Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)'s Official Development Assistance in Central Europe (ODACE). This programme creates trilateral projects between Canada and Central European countries to develop their capacities as a donor of foreign aid.

Trade and Investment

Despite its size relative to Canada's other Central European partners, Slovenia is an important customer. In 2009, exports stood at $46.243 million. Most of our exports are in high value-added products (particularly aircraft and spacecraft) which also bring follow-up service sales. The Canadian aerospace sector has supplied both Slovenia's civil aircraft market and the Slovenian military.

Imports from Slovenia to Canada reached $56.543 million in 2009, the largest items being medicines, mechanical machinery, furniture and bedding, clothing, iron and steel, and toys and sport equipment.

Tel.: + 1 613 565 5781Fax: + 1 613 565 5783E-mail: vot@gov.si