Slovenian press sees business opportunity in Putin's visit

Even though some believed that Slovenia's reputation suffered "international" damage after President Borut Pahor invited Vladimir Putin to Slovenia, prominent Slovenian Daily Delo sees a business opportunity in the Russian president's visit.

Slovenia is, besides Greece and Finland, the third EU member state that Putin has visited this year, the paper notes. Meanwhile, other European leaders, such as Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, see nothing wrong in accepting Putin's invitation in the interest of domestic economy.

The economic damage caused by the senseless war between Western measures and Russian anti-measures is great, said the daily, but even a very formal visit by Russia's leader can offer a possibility for new business in the country.

"We could learn from the US," Slovenian Press Agency reported quoting Daily Delo (labor), adding that while Europe managed to complicate matters by trying to sanction Moscow under instructions from NATO, Americans have increased trade with Russia.

As a result, the federation has managed to restore entire sectors of agricultural production, which it used to import from Slovenia. "Who says sanctions do not work? The only question is: cui bono?" (Cui bono - it's from Latin language "who will win?" or "who will be the winner?") the paper concludes. Endit