NEWS
Prime Minister Janša: “There are ample opportunities to develop new forms of cooperation between Slovenians living abroad and at home”.
At the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and the President of the Government Council for Slovenians Abroad, Janez Janša, the first meeting of the Government Council for Slovenians Abroad, in its new composition, was held in Ljubljana on Tuesday, 20 November 2012.
The members of the Council are representatives of Slovenian communities of emigrants and workers abroad endeavouring to preserve the Slovenian identity worldwide, and the Slovenian government ministers and state secretaries, who deal with the issues of Slovenians abroad. The meeting was also attended by the Chairman of the National Assembly Commission for Relations with Slovenians Abroad, Franc Pukšič.
The discussion mainly focused on the exchange of information regarding the activities of the organisations of Slovenians abroad. Council members thanked the Slovenian Government for its active and continuous support in their efforts to preserve the Slovenian culture and language among Slovenians living abroad. They stressed the importance of maintaining the Government Office for Slovenians Abroad, headed by the Minister without Portfolio, which proves the attention that the Slovenian Government devotes to the development of contacts with Slovenian communities around the world.
The participants assessed cooperation between the representatives of the Slovenian communities abroad and of the Slovenian Government as fruitful. The support to communities in the preservation of the Slovenian language, the integration of young generations into active social life and comprehensive cooperation between Slovenia and the countries of Slovenians abroad is substantial. The representatives noted that there was a considerable interest among Slovenians and others in learning the Slovenian language. In this context, they warmly welcomed the assistance provided by the Office as well as the programmes offered by the Centre for Slovenian as a Second/Foreign Language. The representatives also touched upon the difficulties and challenges they have been facing in their work and life abroad.
The Prime Minister stressed that it was through the Office for Slovenians Abroad and through the activities of various ministries and government offices that the Government of the Republic of Slovenia endeavoured for strong ties between the motherland and Slovenians abroad. The work is focused on the development of the common Slovenian area, the preservation of Slovenian identity, language, culture and cultural heritage, the promotion and strengthening of Slovenian communities and organisations around the world and on the promotion of cooperation in the fields such as science and economy. The Prime Minister underlined that there were still untapped opportunities. New circumstances, arising from the easier overcoming of barriers that were once created by geographical, technological, administrative and other restrictions, today afford opportunities for the development of new forms of actual cooperation.
At the close of the meeting, Council members agreed that, on the basis of previous discussions and taking into account the proposals to be submitted to the Office in the coming weeks, a draft work plan regarding future cooperation between Slovenia and Slovenians abroad would be prepared.