Former President Janez Drnovsek Dies

Ljubljana, 23 February

Former President and Prime Minister Janez Drnovsek died on 23 February at his home in Zaplana, at the age of 57. Having led four governments between 1992 and 2002 with a brief intermission in 2000, Former President Janez Drnovsek was the longest-serving Slovenian prime minister. He steered Slovenia through the transition to a market economy and towards the EU and NATO.

Drnovsek battled cancer for most of his last ten years in office. In July 1999, doctors had removed one of his kidneys, but in late 2003 he would admit that medical tests had showed that the cancer had reappeared.
As a result, the soft-spoken technocrat underwent a major personal transformation, becoming a vocal advocate of healthy living and positive thinking.
Condolences over the death of Former President Janez Drnovsek were sent on Saturday by all Slovenian politicians and religious officials. Heads of parliamentary parties agreed that Drnovsek was a seminal political figure both as a long-time prime minister and president and that he made a lasting contribution to Slovenia's development.
Numerous high-ranking foreign officials paid tribute to deceased Former President Janez Drnovsek, including the EU's foreign policy chief Javier Solana, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and presidents of Croatia and Italy, Stipe Mesic and Giorgio Napolitano.
Javier Solana,the EU's foreign policy chief, said on Saturday that by the death of Former President and Prime Minister Janez Drnovsek Slovenians lost one of the fathers of their statehood and an excellent man who led his nation in crucial historical moments.
"I am very saddened that my good friend Janez died after a long illness," he said and added he recalled numerous moments when Drnovsek's advice and experience were fundamental.
"His friendship and his European convictions will always remain in my memory. A good man, determined to have the values of tolerance and solidarity always upheld, has left us," the statement reads.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso meanwhile said that the deceased Former Slovenian President Janez Drnovsek was greatly committed to European values.
Drnovsek led Slovenia in the time of transition into a fully independent and democratic country and played a pivotal role in Slovenia's EU accession, Barroso added. He said that the former long-time prime minister and president would take first place in the history of independent Slovenia.

Former President Janez Drnovsek Dies

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