MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RICHARD HOWITT VISITED IFIMES

Mr. Richard Howitt, member of the European Parliament (MEP) and the vice-chairman of sub-committee on human rights at the EP visited today, February 15, 2008, the International Institute for Middle East and Balkan Studies, Ljubljana. The IFIMES delegation was headed by the directors Mr. Bakhtyar Aljaf and Mr. Zijad Bećirović.

In an open and in-depth discussion they primarily focused on the following topics:

1. The Slovene EU Presidency, the Slovene foreign policy and activities in the Western Balkans and Middle East.
2. The EU enlargement process and the prospects of the Western Balkans countries.
3. Possible reactions of the Republika Srbska and Milorad Dodik to the Kosovo independence (does the EU have a scenario to react to the already announced reactions of the Republika Srbska).
4. Iran and its nuclear programme.
5. The Middle East peace programme.

Mr. Howitt was also invited to hold a lecture at the Institute in near future, what he accepted with pleasure.

Ljubljana, February 15, 2008