Slovenian Presidency Inaugurates Year of Intercultural Dialogue

Ljubljana, 8 January

Slovenia inaugurated the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue with a grand ceremony on Tuesday, with keynote speakers stressing how auspicious it is to launch the project in a country that stands at the crossroads of so many different cultures and religions. At the ceremony the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and the current President of the European Council, Mr Janez Jansa, spoke in favour of an in-depth discussion on the importance of culture, to be held both within Europe and with all actors outside Europe.

The Slovenian Prime Minister welcomed the fact that the beginning of Slovenia's EU Council Presidency coincided with the opening of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, stating that it was coming at a time when the European Union fulfilled all the conditions to further strengthen its economic and political power. He maintains that the recent important achievements in the area of European integration do not go far enough. “We are becoming increasingly aware of what was already predicted by the founding fathers of a united Europe, namely that the total success of the project of European integration requires not only a large single market and impressive economic growth, but also continual strengthening of the cultural and spiritual aspects of Europe,” Prime Minister Jansa emphasised.
“This year, therefore, the European Union wishes to celebrate the richness of its diverse cultures, to highlight creativity and to support projects that promote integration, European cultural heritage research and raise public awareness”, said Mr Jansa, adding that it was “precisely this heritage which engendered the universal values of modern Europe: freedom, justice, equality, the rule of law and protection of human rights.”
Slovenia's valuable experience of intercultural dialogue in the Adriatic setting will be an "undoubtable boon in ensuring the success of the year of intercultural dialogue," stressed European Education and Culture Commissioner Jan Figel, who also said Europe must build societies that are cohesive and integrate migrants successfully. "These are challenges we must meet if we want our citizens, new and old, to feel confident in our diversity."
Outlining the broader significance of the event, European Parliament President Hans-Gert Poettering stressed that the Year of Intercultural Dialogue signaled Europe's increasing willingness to include cultural issues in EU policy. "The EU wants to be a global role model in furthering dialogue between cultures," he said.
Slovenian President Danilo Tuerk meanwhile said that Europe must have a proactive role in intercultural dialogue. "It has to dispel the impression that it is closing, becoming a fortress which only a selected few may enter (...) Opening up is a two-way process demanding appropriate access to Europe and Europe's different access to others."

Slovenian Presidency Inaugurates Year of Intercultural Dialogue

More articles from this issue:

Archive