NEWS
Prime Minister Alenka Bratušek at the Peace Festival on Pohorje: "Values of the national liberation struggle are values of peace"
Slovenia's Prime Minister Alenka Bratušek today attended the Peace Festival event at Trije Kralji on Pohorje. Addressing the audience, she emphasised the significance of this part of the Štajerska region having been among the few to contribute so many bold male and female combatants in the past. "The toll the region's involvement in the struggle took is immeasurable. This is also testified by the last battle of the Pohorje Partisan Battalion and in this context, the fate of the Šarh family after which this annual peace campaign has been named. We have gathered here today in order to honour the memory of their victims and their contribution that placed Slovenia on the map of the European antifascist struggle. "
Slovenia's Prime Minister continued her address by highlighting the values of the national liberation struggle and equated them with the values of peace, as "during the war, they had to be fought for, while in peace, they need to be preserved and cherished". The Peace Festival event is particularly intended for young people that is to say, for our future, Bratušek said and went on to point out that "we are a live link between the future and the past and only through our efforts to preserve the historical memory for future generations will the latter be able to familiarize themselves with the famous chapters of Slovenia's history and the foundations of the Slovenian nation". In her address, Bratušek also tackled the current situation, where most of the world is confronted with the economic and general social crisis; therefore, it is Slovenia's task to stand together, irrespective of ideological, political and other differences, because this is the only way to soothe people's political passions and raise the level of political dialogue. "This was also the idea of my recent assurances given to the EU, meaning that we are able to do what we must do, that we will demonstrate solidarity in our common battles and that no matter how complex the crisis there is always a solution to it, "pointed out Slovenia's Prime Minister.
Concluding her address, Bratušek also paid respect to all the brave people who had left in these forests the most precious thing they possessed and through their fight, secured us peace, laid foundations to rebuild a devastated Europe and placed an important historical tradition of antifascism in its cradle. "Thanks to them, we are also among the heirs of this tradition. This term of office will only be deemed legitimate if we pursue the noble goals of the respect of freedom and dignity of every person and cherish the fundamental democratic and ethical values ourselves. In facing the challenges of our time, we will need wisdom and courage, the ability to choose our battles and above all, to take the responsibility for our destiny in our hands," added Slovenia's Prime Minister.