The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, today attends the opening meeting of the Euro-Mediterranean Summit of the Social Economic Councils and other similar institutions; in his speech, he called for promotion and enactment of positive values.
 

Photo by: Primož Lavre/Salomon 2000
 
On this occasion, the Prime Minister emphasised interrelation of cultures and nations, as well as philosophic and religious ideas in the Mediterranean area, which historically shaped both the contemporary Western-European civilisation and the cultures and societies of the Middle East and Maghreb.
 
"Personally, I am firmly convinced that the rhetorical implications of the clash of the civilisations in the Mediterranean belong to the 13th century and that today we encounter no unbridgeable obstacles. We are facing challenges, which we must respond to for the benefit of us all. Our aim is to establish a common area of peace, security, stability and welfare", said Janša in response to pessimistic predictions of individual theorists on the clash of civilisations and added that, therefore, one of priorities of Slovenia's Presidency of the European Union will be to promote inter-cultural or inter-civilization dialogue.
 
Janša also supported the idea to set up a Mediterranean university envisaged in the resolution adopted by one of the committees of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly in March last year. "Such international institution could serve as an appropriate intellectual and scientific intersection of the European, Islamic and other cultures of the Mediterranean. And Slovenia, with its central geographical position, would provide a very appropriate location for its seat", added the Prime Minister.
 
According to Janša, intensive movement of people, goods and capital leads to high interdependence of the Mediterranean countries and poses a challenge that can be turned around to our benefit in furthering the overall progress of the region, particularly in the fields of energy, transport, combat against poverty, crime and terrorism as well as in the integration processes.
 
In the conclusion of his speech, the Prime Minister encouraged the participants to promote and enact positive values; the success can be greater if in addition to the countries and international and regional organisations, formal and informal civil societies are also included in their promotion and enactment.