NEWS
Slovenian Prime Minister attends memorial ceremony on the occasion of Europe-wide Day of Remembrance for the victims of all totalitarian and authoritarian regimes
The Primer Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, today attended a memorial ceremony on the occasion of the Europe–wide Day of Remembrance for the victims of all totalitarian and authoritarian regimes, an event that had been organised by the Study Centre for National Reconciliation, the Municipality of Kamnik and the Kamnik Region Demos Society.
On this occasion, it was emphasised that Slovenia can especially feel called to remember its past, since it was the only European country in the 20th century that had experienced all three major totalitarian regimes – Fascism, Nazism and Communism. Moreover, it was particularly stressed that from the victims' aspect, it makes no difference which regime had deprived them of their freedom and tortured or killed them; therefore, we are obliged to pay our tribute to all of them.
In addition to the opening addresses by the representatives of the organizers, i.e. Marjan Šarec, the Mayor of Kamnik, Andreja Valič Zver, Director of the Study Centre for National Reconciliation, and Igor Podbrežnik, the Chairman of the Kamnik Region Demos Society, the participants of the memorial ceremony were, by way of live video transmission, addressed by Tuune Kelam, a Member of the European Parliament and in the 1980s, Estonia's most high-profile dissident, as well as by the President of the Platform of the European Memory and Conscience, Göran Lindbland, who has been known for his struggle for democracy and human rights.
In their addresses, they both highlighted the atrocities, pain and suffering of millions of people who had all across Europe been oppressed by totalitarian and authoritarian regimes, while stressing the need to confront past events and search for the truth. Moreover, Göran Lindbland congratulated Slovenia on its decision that its government follow the call of the European Parliament resolution and that this year, for the first time in its history, our country commemorate the Europe-wide Day of Remembrance for the victims of all totalitarian and authoritarian regimes.
In his address, Janez Juhant, the ceremony's speaker of honour, also stressed the significance of searching for historical truth "that would set us free". "We will learn the truth if we have the courage to face each other, to discuss and to agree on our past in order to be able to look to the future with hope and to enable young people to live and survive". Furthermore, he pointed out the "ideological propagandistic self-deceit". According to Mr Juhant, 23 August is not only intended for commemorating the victims but also for "rearranging the society and redressing injustices caused to the victims by these regimes". In his address, he highlighted the importance of dialogue, since "the recognition of truth takes place through a dialogue where everyone tells his or her own story". To this end, Mr Juhant also emphasised the importance of respecting every human being and added that the totalitarian regimes implemented disorder, while today, it is necessary to establish systemic conditions for the rehabilitation of victims and our common prosperity.