The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr Janez Janša, with his fiancée Urška Bačovnik today attended a ceremony on the 530th anniversary of the town of Višnja Gora. In his speech he emphasised that, in the half millenium since it was recognised as a town, Višnja Gora had gone through different periods but had always remained a place with a soul, a quite special place with a natural beauty and with people who gave it its own particular pulse.

 

(Photo: Bor Slana/Bobo)

 

He commended the people of Višnja Gora as having, over the centuries, proved their capacity for adaptation, their ambition and tirelessness. “With your ingenuity, you show that you can turn changing times to your advantage. Knowledge and creative potential have made this place a progressive one and, in many respects, a model for its neighbours, too,” claimed the Prime Minister. He reported that Slovenia, too, had been developing rapidly in recent years and that it was catching up to the European Union’s average level of development. In recent years, Slovenia has been developing even more rapidly than planned in its national Development Strategy. It is thus securing an ever firmer place among the most innovative European States.

 

Višnja Gora has a special connection with the Slovenian EU Presidency. “The Slovenian Presidency logo – whether it is seen as an oak leaf, representing the solid, persistent and dependable character of Slovenes, a people who are cool under pressure and thoughtful in their decisions, or as a combination of the five classical elements: fire, earth, air, water and ether – was designed by Robert Kuhar, an inhabitant of Višnja Gora,” pointed out the Prime Minister.

 

(Photo: Bor Slana/Bobo)

 

The year 2008, which the Prime Minister qualified as a year of achievements and of the future, started in a very ambitious and very European way. Slovenia took over the helm of the great European family with its population of half a billion and 23 official languages. A family with a rich and diverse history, filled with disputes, wars and friendships, and which, despite its cultural, historical and religious diversity, today lives in a uniquely harmonious way and, despite the occasional setback, makes steady progress.

 

The Prime Minister also recalled the many important personalities who had in some way or another been associated with Višnja Gora and mentioned the time 530 years ago when the Emperor Frederick III had granted it the rights of a town. “Your history goes way back into the past, but the present and future are also important. You, the inhabitants of Višnja Gora, have no reason to be ashamed to say where you come from. History gives you many reasons to be proud of your origins. I am sure that you will be able to make the best of all future challenges, too,” said the Prime Minister, reminding the people of Višnja Gora to take good care of the snail, which is the emblem of the town!