Jansa: Slovenia is in Good Shape

Ljubljana, 24 June

Slovenia experienced rapid development in the past year, it is in good shape and has strengthened its international position, PM Janez Jansa said at Sunday's central ceremony marking 16 years of Slovenian independence.

Jansa said in Ljubljana's Trg republike square that the eve of National Day, marking the anniversary of 25 June 1991 when Slovenia was declared a sovereign state, presented an opportunity to feel proud of a job well done.
"A lot had to happen for the drive towards freedom to mature and finally materialise. This fact was not mentioned very often in the past 16 years," Jansa said, pointing out that Slovenians were "an active factor of change".
Highlighting three events and individuals contributing importantly to Slovenia's independence, Jansa enumerated the 57th issue of the dissident Nova revija magazine, which in 1987 openly discussed Slovenia's independence, the Territorial Defence forces, and dissident Joze Pucnik (1932-2003).
According to Jansa, Pucnik was the "central figure of Slovenia's independence policy, the one who stayed the course towards independence, which was a patriotic and not an ideological project".
While saying that Slovenians still had difficulties acknowledging good things, Jansa pointed to the excellent economic results the country had recorded recently.
"The credit for this developmental leap achieved in the past two years goes above all to our entrepreneurs and our workers," he said, while also acknowledging the efforts of parliament.
"New opportunities lie ahead. Slovenia is in good shape, it has the wind in its sails and the rudder set in the right direction," Jansa said.
"It has a good team on board. The international seas are calm, only the home waters are seeing some artificial waves and clouds. Yet the horizon of the nation's future is clear as never before. The current generation and the ones to come have a happy journey ahead. This was made possible by the decision taken 16 years ago. The decision was a right one," Jansa concluded.
Apart from the central ceremony, which delighted with a rich cultural programme, the anniversary of the country's independence was also honoured by a ceremonial parliament session and a Mass "for the country" celebrated by Ljubljana Archbishop and Metropolitan Alojz Uran.
This-year's main ceremony was meanwhile also marked with the absence of both President Janez Drnovsek and Former President Milan Kucan.
Drnovsek said he decided to boycott the event because of the country's current state of mind. "The decision did not come easy. However, I do not find it appropriate to take on the role of an extra at the ceremony and help create the impression that everything is fine and beautiful," Drnovsek said ahead of the ceremony.

Jansa: Slovenia is in Good Shape

More articles from this issue:

Archive