Tonight the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, attended the swearing-in ceremony of the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Danilo Türk, at the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia. After the ceremony, the PM said that he expected concrete collaboration with the new President – a matter that was agreed between them at a meeting at the end of November.

 

(Photo: Srdjan Živulovič/Bobo)

 

The PM said he was glad that in his inaugural address, the new Slovenian President expressed the need for collaboration among all branches of power, which would be particularly important in the first half of 2008, when Slovenia takes over the EU Presidency.

 

Mr Janša also expressed satisfaction that the new President had stated before the National Assembly that reconciliation was one of his priorities, and highlighted patriotism as one of the values that he holds dear. "Dr Danilo Türk is the first Slovenian President who especially stressed this in his inaugural speech, which fills me with optimism," said the PM.

 

(Photo: Kristina Kosec/Bobo)

 

The PM hopes that the President will also adopt an active roll in foreign policy, particularly in the first half of 2008. Both Mr Janša and Mr Türk have already discussed this, agreeing on coordinated actions and regular meetings. "Given his experience in the international arena, I expect that he will have much to contribute to Slovenia's activities during the EU Presidency," said the PM.

 

In response to a journalist's question about an assessment of the work of the previous President, Dr Janez Drnovšek, the PM said that the President went through different periods during his term in office, but that his term should be viewed as a whole. "During some of the periods, Dr Janez Drnovšek greatly contributed to the fact that Slovenia is today a successful country," Mr Janša concluded his address.