NEWS
Prime Minister Borut Pahor had reception for relatives of victims of war for independent Slovenia: "Freedom was not given to Slovenians"
Today, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, hosted the traditional annual reception for relatives of the members of the Slovenian Territorial Defence and Ministry of the Interior forces as well as those of civilian war victims killed or wounded in the war for an independent Slovenia and addressed the participants assembled for this occasion. In his address, Prime Minister Pahor said: "War spares no one, not only those who are directly involved in it. It is my great honour to stand here in front of you and thank you for defending, in one way or another, that for what Slovenians decided in a plebiscite, as well as for the fact that today, we can proudly look into the future of our nation.
Mr Pahor went on to say that he was pleased to have the opportunity to address the relatives of the victims killed or wounded in the war for independent Slovenia on the eve of the 20th anniversary of independence. "On such glorious occasions as independence, small and big nations alike create almost mythical stories about those times of unity, which, however, did not happen overnight. Though there were many doubts, persuasions, various views and also disagreements, it was this pluralism of views that ultimately brought us to a great and crucial moment of our nation."
Slovenians had to take a stand against violence and occupation," emphasised Prime Minister Pahor and added that although this had indeed been a short period of time, it had nevertheless been a war, which had taken its toll. Therefore, we must not forget that freedom was not given to our nation. Mr Pahor pointed out that our gratitude and thanks go to those who should be honoured for enabling us, through their boldness, courage and unity, to breathe the air of freedom and built on the opportunity they have given us. "We should be eternally grateful to those who gave what is most precious – their lives. And we must do our utmost that the future generations do not forget them or their relatives who lost their beloved ones," emphasised Prime Minister Pahor.
The reception for relatives of victims of war for independent Slovenia was also attended by Slovenian President Dr Danilo Türk, the President of the Slovenian National Assembly Dr Pavel Gantar and the Prime Minister's special rapporteur for Bosnia and Herzegovina and the former Slovenian president, Milan Kučan.