NEWS

Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša receives an Innovation in Diplomacy award for his independence efforts

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, received an award for Innovation in Diplomacy at the World Summit on Innovation and Entrepreneurship that took place in Boston, USA from 26 to 28 September 2012. He received the award for his role and new diplomatic approach in Slovenia’s struggle for independence and setting up of democracy in Slovenia.
 
At the time when the Slovenian Prime Minister attended the 67th United Nations General Assembly session in New York, where he spoke about the initiative to strengthen the mechanisms of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, the award was accepted on his behalf in Boston by Slovenia’s Ambassador to the US, Roman Kirn.
 
The World Summit on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (www.thewsie.org/prologue.html) was launched in 2006 under the support of the United Nations, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and African Union, and in partnership with some most prominent multinationals. The purpose of the summit is to connect and facilitate the creation of strategic alliances between the world’s most innovative organisations and people who are actively transforming and improving the social and economic development of the world.
 
Since 2008, awards at the summit have been given every year to the most innovative people and organisations making significant contributions through their work to different areas such as art, environment, economy, technology, science, education and politics. The award recognises the recipient's unique contribution to greater prosperity and progress of his social environment and beyond.
 
Former recipients of the award include Bill Gates, Founder and Chairman of Microsoft Corp., Stephen Hawking, Theoretical Physicist, Tarja Halonen, President of the Republic of Finland, Paul Kagame, Fighter for Peace and President of the Republic of Rwanda, and many others. This year, the award for Innovation in Diplomacy was received by Prime Minister Janša for his independence efforts and his contribution to the setting up of democracy in Slovenia.