So this is something that EU is doing quite well.  But that was enough for EU of 15 before the last EU enlargement in 2004 and 2007.  The question is, what about now are these instruments sufficient with EU 27?  Well, diversity has considerably increased but including twelve, ten plus two new countries bringing in differences in culture, historical experience, economy but still this enlargement which is important now for this debate, this enlargement bringing the scope of diversity, this did not bring in differences in religion yet but whether we talk about further EU enlargement will have to deal with that because as Slovenia we are strong promoter of EU enlargement toward the Western Balkans that would include Bosnia, Herzegovina, Kosovo.  We are also strong supporter of EU enlargement with Turkey.  So, you know, with this scope having in mind then of course, the differences in religion will also come in and the question is, is EU ready to deal with that, has EU instrument how to deal with this kind of diversity?  It’s, the answer is not easy.

Interviewer:    No, it’s not, certainly

Interviewee:    But, you know, history lessons are telling us that any integration is doomed to fail if based on discrimination separate the nations.  So, you know, before we decide this in parallel we have to develop instruments how to deal with this different field that we intend to bring in.  Now, may be a few words on interface and intercultural dialogue.  Due to our historical experience in Slovenia we just see intercultural interface dialogue is a process that is critically important for creation of an open cultural environment in which people of different culture and religion live side by side in tolerance and mutual respect and it is a job for government to provide such, you know, a setting such a toolbox and promote, to promote such a dialogue on a national, regional, and global level.  And when we were having two years ago, EU presidency, intercultural dialogue was one of our priorities.  In fact, we have established within one of our institution center for European perspective we have established special task force on intercultural dialogue for Western Balkans.  Globally, we are very much engaged especially in so UN and Council of Europe.  We are partners from the very beginning in triple tie forum on interface cooperation for peace in alliance of civilization and ask some interface dialogue.  Mainly, this is under auspices of UN and what UN, when I was ambassador to UN, I know we focused on that very much and that was the global explorer and once would never estimate that the need to be exposed and to be engaged in a global level, however, we believe that original cooperation, original engagement is of critical importance because this is the area where us Slovenia is a small country in particular can provide added value and this is where we engage most because this is where we can really show and demonstrate some results.  And there are two basic reasons why when it comes to interface and intercultural dialogue we engage in the Western Balkans in particular.  First, because we are still dealing with the consequences of while in conflict in former Yugoslavia and secondly because so intercultural dialogue we can strengthen the EU perspective of this countries for the region that is very important prerequisite which basically means that we have to bring this to make this culture more, ,more European to fit more to this European family of nations.

We know through the history and latest and particularly that Western Balkans can serve us as an example for both constructive and destructive practices of intercultural dialogue where this dialogue were in place.  Especially when it comes to Bosnia and Kosovo conflict in former Yugoslavia got also in religious dimension because mosque, orthodox and catholic churches were burned down but I would like to make here a distinction because the conflict in Yugoslavia as such especially when it started it was never about religion, it was about politics, it was about ethnicity particularly.  And as a way of reconciliation interface and intercultural dialogue is so important now in Bosnia, Herzegovina in particular and Kosovo.  In Bosnia, Herzegovina among three ethnic communities and in Kosovo among Serbs and Kosovo Albanians.  Kosovo Albanians are now being a majority land nation after acquiring their own states so before they were a minority, now they are as a majority as a majority always has a more responsibility to take care about the minorities.  So now, Kosovo Albanians have to pursue politics that will ensure protection of Serbs minority.  And may be just as a way of conclusion what specifically do in the Western Balkans as our contribution.