NEWS
Address by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr. Janez Janša, on the occasion of the last goodbye to Miran Bogataj
In Slovenia Miran Bogataj is best known for his work as the national Civil Protection Commander. Someone who was always there for us when we were afflicted by a natural disaster. He is also widely recognised for his superb skills in negotiating the withdrawal of the then occupying force, the Yugoslav People's Army, from the Slovenian territory after Slovenia's successful defence in the war of 1991.
Firefighters, members of rescue teams and various societies and federations who met him professionally remember him as a person who provided assistance even when it seemed there were no financial and other resources available. In his personal life he was a loving husband and father. Those of us who on rare occasions enjoyed his company will remember him as a witty and intelligent man who could push aside everyday problems for a moment in order to relax and have some fun.
Nevertheless, Slovenians are less familiar with what I consider to be his most significant contribution in the toughest of times when the crucial decision about Slovenia's independence was at stake, when we were faced with the possibility to take Slovenia's destiny into our own hands.
After the first free election in 1990, an encoded cable from Miran waited on my desk on the very first day of my term as minister of defence at the then secretariat for people's defence. He informed me that the Slovenian Territorial Defence units were being disarmed and weapons taken from administrative bodies although the then federal authorities had no powers for such measures. Furthermore, he proposed that we should immediately issue an order to stop disarmament. The order was issued without delay and because of his timely warning a sizeable number of Slovenian municipalities kept at least the weapons of their administrative bodies for people's defence. Henceforth Miran Bogataj was intensively engaged in the preparations for securing Slovenia's independence, if necessary even with real force.
He is enshrined in the memory of the deputies of the three chambers in the first democratically elected assembly as an ardent supporter of the new legislation on defence. In the spring of 1991 when the laws on defence, military service and defence budget were adopted with one or two votes tipping the balance, we had to obtain the decisive votes for a positive decision on issues which in a few months turned out to be fatal or decisive for the Slovenian state.
The general public in Slovenia is also not well acquainted with the contribution of Miran Bogataj during the war for Slovenia. Those times were indeed crucial and we had to improvise. We were forced to stand up to a much stronger military power with innovative solutions and ideas, for example how to halt the advancing Yugoslav troops or warn the civilian population of air strikes. Miran Bogataj was a pioneer and a rich source of ideas how to attain an objective without proper resources at hand. He did not only come up with an idea but also possessed the ability to implement it. It usually took him only one night to translate a thought stemming from discussions into a draft law. In the morning legislative solutions were on our tables, which made it possible that a big part of our preparations for independence was carried out in an organised manner and we were always one step ahead of our adversaries.
On this sad occasion I should also like to remind you of the words used by Miran Bogataj to mark the 20th anniversary of the departure of the last soldier of the Yugoslav People's Army from Slovenia. He mentioned that many things we see today are not what we wished for or what we imagined them to be 20 years ago. Nevertheless, one should not forget that this generation saw the birth and successful defence of the Slovenian state. Such an event bears no comparison with a few years in a man's life. Miran Bogataj took an optimistic view even in the trying times when pragmatism and everyday concern coupled with developments in our daily lives cloud our vision of the past and future.
In crucial times Miran Bogataj as a member of the coordination group for the protection of measures for gaining independence with real force played the key role in setting up the defence system of an emerging state. He was one of the key figures that through their ideas and action defended our motherland against the attackers. In the aftermath, he continued to play a pivotal role in the creation of the new Slovenian defence system over a decade while performing the most demanding tasks in the field of civil protection and disaster relief. Miran Bogataj at the time held two responsible positions, each a full-time job on its own; yet he still managed to fulfil all his tasks.
Allow me to avail myself of this opportunity to extend to his wife and daughters, and his relatives sincere condolences on my own behalf and in the name of the Slovenian Government.
With great sadness and pride the flags of our state, the flags of our Slovenian homeland, which you fought for, today pay tribute to you dear Miran. May you rest in peace.