NEWS

Prime Minister Janez Janša: Slovenians living in neighbouring countries and further afield represent an additional strength of our nation

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, today attended the 12th meeting of Slovenians living in neighbouring countries and further afield, the main topic of which was intergenerational dialogue. On this occasion, Prime Minister Janša addressed the participants. In his address, the Prime Minister highlighted particularly the importance of the major contribution of Slovenians living in neighbouring countries and further afield during Slovenia’s struggle for independence and later and touched upon the Government’s measures designed to lead Slovenia out of the recession and economic stagnation.
 
Prime Minister Janša stressed the importance of the contribution of the Slovenian community living beyond the nation's borders to the intellectual and cultural and political awakening that facilitated the creation of the Slovenian state at the end of the 1980s. He noted that Slovenians living in neighbouring countries and further afield had played an irreplaceable role in the efforts for international recognition of the new state. Moreover, they “never lost faith in their homeland”.
 
The Prime Minister continued by saying that »we, who live in our home country, carefully observe your life, achievements and work, and your difficulties are also our difficulties that sadden us; moreover, we are also proud of your successes and consider them to be our joint successes." He also mentioned the role and contribution of Slovenians to science, culture, sports, economy and politics all over the world. He said that Slovenians living beyond the nation's borders were also a significant element in connecting the Slovenian culture and nation. "Almost half a million of you are scattered around the world and this is the additional strength of our nation that we particularly need at this time", he added.
 
The Prime Minister also emphasised that the Government was currently accelerating the adoption of measures which would lead the country out of the recession and economic stagnation. "This spring, we had to make changes to the whole body of law in order to reduce public expenditure and stimulate economic activity and, to at least some degree, balance Slovenia's public finances and avoid the disaster of uncontrolled borrowing", he said. The Prime Minister particularly highlighted the reduction of corporate tax liabilities as one of the major measures aimed at restoring economic growth that had already been adopted by the Government, particularly for the companies investing in research and development as the only long-term and reliable way to creating new jobs. "The Government is currently also working hard to achieve a consensus on amendments to the Constitution in order to facilitate a more efficient and cost-effective functioning of the state. The Government is also focused on additional measures aimed at eliminating the unnecessary and detrimental administrative barriers and improving the business environment", added Prime Minister Janša. According to him, Slovenia now in urgent need of domestic and foreign investment; "we are, therefore, determined to further open up to the world and to strengthen our economic and personal relations with other countries, including with your assistance."
 
In his address the Prime Minister also pointed out that the efforts to ensure the best possible position of the Slovenian community in other countries were a constituent part of Slovenia's foreign policy. In this context, he touched on the many efforts undertaken by the Government and a number of Slovenian public institutions to provide the best possible support to the Slovenian community living beyond the nation's borders. He emphasised that the Government undertook to pursue a positive attitude and strive for a maximum enhancement of relations between Slovenians at home and abroad under the coalition agreement.
 
In the Prime Minister's words, the Slovenian Government strives to promote personal relations between Slovenians at home and abroad, particularly through its Office for Slovenians Abroad. He went on to outline some concrete plans and efforts aimed to build a closer relationship and make a joint contribution to the development of scientific, economic and social activities of all Slovenians.

At the close of his address, the Slovenian Prime Minister expressed his belief that Slovenians living in neighbouring countries and further afield would remain "ambassadors of their homeland, its window to the neighbouring countries and to the whole wide world" also in the future.