FOLLOWING THE VISIT BY HER MAJESTY QUEEN MARGARETHE II TO SLOVENIA
(Video in Slovenian Language)

Brnik, 12 October 2001


Following the three-day visit by Her Majesty Quenn Margerethe II of Denmark to Slovenia, her host, President Milan Kucan, gave a statement to the press expressing his satisfaction with the high guest's visit. The President also stressed that it was with pleasure that he accepted Her Majesty's invitation to visit the Kingdom of Denmark.

It is a great pleasure for me, as it is certainly for everyone, that we were paid a visit by Her Majesty the Queen of Denmark and the Prince Consort Henri. They both showed great interest in Slovenia, in the functioning of our institutions, in cultural and social life, and particularly for the conditions in which and the way our people live. They also exhibited great benevolence and attention by the large escorting delegation composed of highly esteemed representatives of economic and cultural life, artists, musicians, scientists, sportsmen. Thus they were able to better present to us the beat of life in Denmark.

I believe that this visit was an extremely good opportunity for us to strengthen existing contacts and also to forge new ties. A visit at this level is an excellent opportunity to also reinforce the foundations of cooperation between our countries, cooperation that goes above and beyond the good and friendly relations between people and individual institutions.

Most of all Denmark, which like Slovenia is not one of the large European countries, showed to us that it was possible to maintain one's identity, both cultural and spiritual, even in large associations and that it was possible to forge alliances in maintaining what is to my mind the crucial advantage of European integration: respect and preservation of differences. The message that Queen Margarethe II and her husband's visit brought not only to us but to all of Europe is precisely one of preserving differences.

As for the future, I believe that the time is coming where we will be debating together the future of Europe, the future of the world and our responsibility for the world. In this context I believe this visit showed that the Danes and the Slovenes will share similar if not the same positions.