This evening, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, attended the main state celebration commemorating Independence and Unity Day. In his address, he spoke of recent history and the situation today, highlighting Slovenia's economic and social development, and stressing that in 2007, Slovenia had achieved more than at any time since it gained independence.
(Photo: Bor Slana/Bobo)
In his address, the PM stressed that we have not achieved all this success because of the will of others, but through our own efforts. Since the plebiscite, we have made great efforts and become part of the European family, which appreciates Slovenia's creative potential, abilities and experience. In his view, Slovenia can be proud of its economic and social development, which, however, also has some negative effects, such as slightly higher inflation, which is the result of well-known effects of growth at home and abroad. Mr Janša noted that there are some 200,000 of Slovenia's citizens who are living on or below the poverty threshold. "It is because of this that the Government has decided to implement measures which are aimed at protecting their social position, particularly in the coming months," the PM said.
In his address, the PM asked himself why, despite all the success and recognition we have received, somewhere there is still an air of gloom, unease and even jealousy at this success. "Next year will see eighteen years since the reconciliation ceremony in Kočevski Rog in the summer of 1990. Nevertheless, it seems as if we have not managed to put all disputes behind us," said the PM, asking himself why no–one is bothered by the mass graves which were recently discovered in Slovenia (the latest number is as high as 571 mass graves). "Yet no-one is disturbed by that; we push that into the subconscious, but it emerges somehow. How big a wound to morality does it take before we are startled by the words of people who consider themselves respectful, yet call burying the dead 'tossing around' or 'counting' bones?" said the PM, highlighting the need for truth to be respected. According to Mr Janša, we should ask ourselves what kind of a nation we are if we cannot even bury our dead. "It is the basic principle of civilisation to bury the dead, as they are also part of society and deserve respect," he stressed, adding that it seems as if in Slovenia this is not the case.
(Photo: Bor Slana/Bobo)
The PM wondered why there was no consensus about facing these issues, appraising them as this is done in all civilised countries, and moving forward. In his view, we can look for the answer in countries which faced similar issues in the past. With regard to this, Mr Janša quoted a part of the address delivered by Václav Havel on 1 January 1990. In his address, Mr Havel said that the Czech people lived in a contaminated moral environment. Mr Janša believes that in 1990 Slovenes faced exactly the same problem, but that there was no-one to appeal for respect for the truth from the same position as President Havel. In the PM's view, we heard instead that there were many different truths, while now we are forced to pay the debt for trying to cheat the truth. "This is why this original sin of untruth is passed on to the next generations, but does not disappear," he said.
"Will our generation, which managed to close ranks and agree on the plebiscite, gained independence for and brought democratic changes to Slovenia, and brought it to the EU, NATO and EMU, be capable of taking this step?" asked the PM, expressing the conviction that the wounds of division would soon begin to heal. "If we have managed all this in the past eighteen years, we will manage this step, too," he stressed. In his view, today's holiday and all that which it symbolises in the future must be a source of strength with which the Slovenian people will overcome this division. According to Mr Janša, Slovenes doubtless agree that the Slovenian state is the single greatest achievement in history and something that helps to overcome divisions.
In his address, the PM also recalled the significance of another event well worth celebrating – as of today, Slovenia has become part of the Schengen Area; something previous generations never dared dream of.
In conclusion, the PM recalled all those who helped establish the Slovenian state, and gave their life for it. "They deserve special remembrance and recognition," he said, giving special mention to members of the Slovenian Police and Territorial Defence, who, in December 1990, protected Slovenia's key institutions and safeguarded the country's historic decision.
