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Prime Minister Pahor Attends the Closing Ceremony of the 140th Anniversary of Voluntary Firefighting Services in Slovenia

On Sunday, 13 December 2009, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, attended a ceremony celebrating the 140th anniversary of the Slovenian firefighting services, where he also delivered an address. "140 years of organised activities is an august tradition, a tradition that very few non-governmental organisations on the territory of today's Slovenia can boast. On this important anniversary, I wish to join the expressions of respect for the road you have travelled and for the achievements attained on this road, while thanking you for your significant work, which you pursue mainly on a voluntary basis even today.
 

(Foto: Tamino Petelinšek/STA)

  
Prime Minister went on to emphasise that the development of firefighting activities was also accompanied by the maturing of the Slovenian nation: "In the firefighting societies, the role and number of Slovenian members gradually increased, with one of the results being the formation of Slovenian firefighting terminology towards the end of the 19th century. This was a great achievement in terms of the linguistic and cultural progress of the Slovenian nation." According to Mr Pahor, these developments meant recalling the postulate that the most important factors enshrined in the original principles of firefighting were education, comradeship and aid to people in distress, and later also the non-partisan operation of the entire organisation, which today is still the most numerous general rescue force in the system of protection from natural and other disasters.
   
All of these values have over time lost none of their significance, according to Mr Pahor. He commended the firefighters, who can serve as an example to the whole of the Slovenian population in modern society, in which entirely different values, placing at the forefront individuals amassing material goods, sometimes hold sway.
 

(Foto: Tamino Petelinšek/STA)

 
At the close of his address, Mr Pahor, praising the unselfish and humane work of firefighters, added that their activity, based on voluntary service and dedication, could be considered a value that must remain particularly cherished. "I cannot imagine that our country could sustain the strong force of professional rescue workers that you represent, as volunteers, during those natural, civil and other disasters that can hit us any time," said Mr Pahor. He also promised that, within the medium-term national programme of protection from natural and other disasters, the Slovenian Government would also deal with the problems associated with the status of voluntary services, as well as with the equipment and technical training of firefighting units.