NEWS

Prime Minister Pahor: it is time for courage and great decisions

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, today attended the ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the first democratically elected Government of the Republic of Slovenia, where he also delivered an address. In his speech, Prime Minister Pahor stressed that at the turn of the 1990's "Slovenia's achieving democracy and gaining independence opened a completely new chapter in the country's history and gave present and future generations new faith and hope in a better and fairer future."

   

(Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA)

     

Prime Minister Pahor went on to emphasise that twenty years after the Demos Government, led by Lojze Peterle, took over executive power in a democratic manner and set gaining Slovenia’s independence as its most important plan, and after Slovenia joined numerous political, economic and other institutions, our country – by accession to the OECD – would practically round off its position in the family of the most democratic and developed countries in the world. "Slovenia achieved democracy and gained independence without historical delay and almost without victims. Those victims whom we will always remember with great respect did not result from internal disagreements but from shameful acts by foreigners," said Prime Minister Pahor and added that when we recall the development and success of the Demos Government, we should not neglect the fact that the ambitious ideas on the future of Slovenia did not meet only with general understanding and sympathy, but also with doubt, fear and even indifference.
    
From today's point of view, it seems superficially that the success of the Slovenian policy of that time was easy and self-evident.  "When we celebrate your success as our common success, which it certainly was to a large extent, we must be aware, in view of our present and future aspirations, how difficult it was and still is to change things and the world for the common good," said Prime Minister Pahor. Today, too, we are facing important and historic decisions. Today, just as twenty years ago, we cannot afford "to analyse in detail and weigh with full precision every little act; it is time for courage and a sense for great decisions." Prime Minister Pahor concluded by pointing to the main question that we need to answer, namely "into which value, social and development flow Slovenia will place itself. In my view, we must aim for and plan above average goals in every sense, developmental and human, if we want to continue our dreams of hope and desire started twenty years ago."