Brussels, 01/02/2006 (Agence Europe) - Slovenia and Slovakia are very much of one mind when it comes to efforts for joining the Schengen regime, Slovakian Interior Minister Vladimir Palko said on 27 January in Ljubljana after talks with his Slovenian counterpart Dragutin Mate, according to the Slovenian press agency STA. Mr Mate said both countries recognised the importance for the EU of acting at the level of the source countries, and that the debate must not be limited to sub-Saharan Africa, but cover countries like Belarus, Ukraine and the greater Balkans. Both Ministers agreed the importance of promoting bilateral cooperation and exchange of information between the two countries on the implementation of Schengen standards and to combat illegal immigration. These topics will probably be on the table for discussion at the Salzburg Forum of Central European Interior Ministers, which will be chaired by Slovakia in the first half of the year, and by Slovenia in the second half.