NEWS

Prime Minister Borut Pahor: Vision and courage will prevail again

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, accompanied by the former President of the Republic of Slovenia, Milan Kučan, attended a ceremony in Krakow today to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Poland’s first democratic elections and the fall of Communism.

 

(Foto: Bor Slana/Bobo)

  

In his address, Mr Pahor stressed the significance of democratic change for Slovenia and Europe, highlighting the importance of vision and the courage of individuals and the democratic public sphere for the collapse of totalitarian regimes of the past. The first democratic elections in Poland are an important milestone in the history of former Communist countries since they led to the resurgence of democracy and later to Europe’s integration. German Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed that the fall of the Berlin Wall would not have occurred without the Solidarity movement and elections in Poland. The speakers also expressed support for democratic change, remembered those who gave their lives to achieving these changes and highlighted the European Union as a crucial factor in our common future.

 

In addition to prime ministers and other senior representatives of former Communist countries, the ceremony was also attended by the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Yuliya Tymoshenko, and two guests of honour, Vaclav Havel and Lech Wałęsa.