Today in Ljutomer, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, attended the main ceremony marking the 140th anniversary of the first Slovene camp and delivered a speech on this occasion. Before the ceremony the Prime Minister met with the Mayor of Ljutomer, Franc Jurša, representatives of the municipal councils and businessmen from Ljutomer, and visited an exhibition on the camp movement in Slovenia at the Town Hall.
(Photo: Nebojša Tejić/Salomon 2000)
According to the Prime Minister, between 1868 and 1871, Slovene camps again set the main objective of Slovenian politics: "Slovenia United". PM Janša noted that the camps were not only a reflection of fear prior to the German and Italian integration process but also represented the belief that it was necessary to participate actively in international processes resulting from the victory of the national idea of Europe at that time. "They understood that ongoing participation, taking an active part in international development, would enable the nation to exist as well as progress," said the Slovenian PM in his address.
(Photo: Nebojša Tejić/Salomon 2000)
PM Janez Janša believes that it is no coincidence that the first Slovene camp appeared in Ljutomer, as approximately one third of Slovenes lived in Štajerska, which was at the same time one third of the population of the entire country. According to the Prime Minister, the inhabitants of Ljutomer had their own reading society even before 1848, which developed into a rich activity the following spring, while the reading room in Ljutomer became the leading organiser of cultural-political activities in the district and the surrounding area immediately after its establishment – in Ljutomer and the surrounding area people had the courage to undertake more intensive political action.
(Photo: Nebojša Tejić/Salomon 2000)
On this occasion the Prime Minister also noted that the camps in Slovenia were not established due to certain revolutionary ideas but were the means by which people formed the country in terms of the constitution and the law, which allowed political unification and action on one hand and exercising the famous constitutional article ensuring formal equality to all nations on the other.
(Photo: Nebojša Tejić/Salomon 2000)
"The inhabitants of Ljutomer and Prlekija can be rightly proud of such a rich tradition. You contributed significantly to Slovenian national, material, spiritual and cultural development. You can be proud of your current accomplishments," assured Prime Minister Janez Janša, adding that owing to camps, such as the Ljutomer camp 140 years ago, Slovenians have enough historical tradition to take further advantage of what our country brings us. Compared to the time when our destiny and future depended largely on circumstances in Vienna, today our present and future depend on us alone," commented PM Janez Janša, concluding that existence and national identity do not depend on the international situation but on ourselves and our national awareness. "The camps clearly communicate that being Slovenian, above all, means wanting to be Slovenian."
