The prospects for cooperation between Bulgaria and Slovenia in the process of their integration into the EU and NATO, and security problems in Southeastern Europe topped the agenda of Foreign Minister Solomon Passi's official visit to Slovenia from Sunday to Tuesday.

The talks between Passi and Slovenian President Milan Kucan on Monday centred on NATO and EU enlargement, the global situation after the September 11 terrorist attacks, and the situation in Southeastern Europe. Kucan said that Bulgaria is a serious partner and a friend of Slovenia on the road to their common goal - membership in NATO and the EU.

The Bulgarian foreign minister proposed that the two countries assist each other on the road to their NATO and EU integration, through Bulgaria's participation as nonpermanent member of the UN's Security Council, and in the infrastructure transformation of the region.

However, Bulgarian and Slovenian hopes to join NATO next year were a bit overshadowed by the information that Austria is going to apply for membership in the same organization. Austria could become the strongest candidate for membership and thus put a barrier before some of the former communist states.

On Wednesday, Passi went to Austria and met with his colleague Benita Ferrero-Waldner. At a press conference after the meeting, Ferrero-Waldner said that the NATO issue is not on the agenda, as a change in Austria's neutrality status requires amendments to its Constitution, for which the votes of the opposition are needed.

But after calming the Bulgarian side on the NATO bid, Ferrero-Waldner said that she was expecting the position of the government in Sofia on the closure of units three and four of the Kozlodui Nuclear Power Plant. She recalled that Bulgaria promised to close the oldest units - one and two - by 2003, and to announce when it will close units three and four in 2002.

According to Ferrero-Waldner this should take place not later than 2006. "Austria will continue its financial support for the closure of the old units," the Austrian foreign minister said.

Ferrero-Waldner informed Passi of the progress of the initiative for setting up an organization for cooperation among the Danubian countries launched in July by Austria, Romania, the European Commission and the Stability Pact for Southeastern Europe. The initiative is supported by Bulgaria. The second preparatory conference has been scheduled for February in Budapest and the first meeting of the new organization will probably be held in May, the Austrian diplomat announced.

Solomon Passi thanked his Austrian counterpart for Austria's support in lifting visa requirements for Bulgarian nationals and in the course of the country's integration into the European Union in general.