Ljubljana Lobbying for Borut Pahor to Succeed Lajcak as EU Envoy

Ljubljana, Slovenia (Pixabay)

With the support of his country’s Foreign Ministry, former Slovenian president and founder of the Friends of the Western Balkans institute Borut Pahor is lobbying to be the next EU special envoy for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, since incumbent Envoy Miroslav Lajcak is set to complete his second term in late August.

According to the Ljubljana daily Delo, given that Slovenia considers the Western Balkans a strategic territory and its Foreign Ministry sees Pahor as a suitable candidate for the important and prestigious regional role, Slovenia’s leadership has decided to employ the country’s diplomatic network to aid Pahor’s bid.

In December, Pahor founded a private institute titled Friends of the Western Balkans, which officially began operation in late February. The institute’s goal is to advise on and aid cooperation between the countries of the region and European and international institutions, as well as between the peoples and countries of the Western Balkans itself.

Aside from its founder and director Pahor, the institute includes an Advisory Board of 16 politicians and diplomats experienced in Western Balkan issues, from 12 different countries. Among them are former EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherin Ashton, former Swedish Prime Minister and U.N. High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina Carl Bildt, former Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor, former Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga, former Serbian President Boris Tadic, former Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev and former Macedonian Defense Minister Radmila Sekerinska.