NEWS
Prime Minister Pahor attends 3rd Protection and Rescue Days in Novo Mesto
This afternoon, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, attended the 3rd Protection and Rescue Days in Novo Mesto. He addressed the guests assembled for this occasion, among them numerous men and women in the fire service, members of Civil Protection and other representatives of voluntary and professional rescue services. Mr Pahor began his address by emphasising the importance of principle policies incorporated into the new Resolution on the 2009–2015 National Programme for Protection against Natural and Other Disasters adopted by the National Assembly in July this year on a proposal by the Government, and went on to say: "This programme defines further promotion of preventive action in protection against natural and other disasters as its key objective. Preventive action still lacks systematic planning, coordination among separate activities and orientation towards common goals."
(Foto: Rasto Božič/STA)
The Slovenian Prime Minister also highlighted the current adverse economic conditions and the action plan defining key projects and basic tasks, which will help strengthen essential protection of people and property against natural and other disasters. "Our goal is to achieve even more effective and rational action and the fastest possible response by various rescue services to all kinds of disasters, irrespective of their effects. It is fundamental that under the present demanding circumstances we retain the achieved level of safety for people and property and, if possible, to increase it further," emphasised Mr Pahor. However, the content of the Protection and Rescue National Programme is, as a common thread, accompanied both by the impact of increasingly visible climate change and efforts for more adequate status, equipment, skill and training of professional, voluntary and other rescue workers.
(Foto: Rasto Božič/STA)
Prime Minister Pahor particularly welcomed the attendance of numerous young people from primary and secondary schools, because they should indeed be the main target public of the message that safety is one of the fundamental values of each individual, since safety in the face of natural and other disasters cannot be taken for granted, and requires constant and active efforts. And the greatest credit for these efforts should be given to the people assembled at this festival, who in various units and services voluntarily take part in rescuing people and property. "Your work and your efforts are particularly cherished by those who need your assistance in various disasters. And the fact is that they also get it," said Mr Pahor. He went on to point to the status of rescue workers – volunteers, which has still not been adequately regulated. Therefore, the improvement of this status is included in the new programme documents of the draft 2010/2011 budgets as one of the key tasks of further development of protection against natural and other disasters.
At the close of the address, Prime Minister Pahor thanked the participants for their endeavours in performing the tasks of protection, rescue and relief, thus realising the fundamental principle of humanity and solidarity: "My thanks go to all of you, no matter whether you work as firemen, mountain or cave rescuers, divers, rescue dogs handlers, scouts, members of Red Cross or Caritas or members of professional and other rescue services."