Brussels, 20/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - Slovene Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, will now represent the Slovene Government within the Convention on the future of Europe. He will replace Matjaz Nahtigal, who so far held the role. Mr. Rupel is thus following in the footsteps of governments of several Member States (such as France, Germany and Greece) which have recently decided to be represented in the final phase of the Convention by their foreign ministers (which was already the case for Spain). "This decision may be interpreted in the same way as those recently taken by other countries", commented the spokesman for the Slovene Government. "The Convention is entering a crucial phase and we want a stronger say", he said. Slovenia is already represented in the Convention's Presidium by one of its national deputies, former foreign minister Alojz Peterle.