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On the so called criminal information, relations with the Prime Minister, the proposed candidate for the post of Governor of the Bank of Slovenia and on book-writing
Ljubljana, 02/23/2007 | statement
The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr. Janez Drnovšek, was today met by media in front of the premises of Radio Triglav, where he was expected to give an interview. The President of the Republic, Dr. Janez Drnovšek, was answering questions on the so called criminal information against him, relations with the Prime Minister and the Government, the proposed candidate for the post of Governor of the Bank of Slovenia and on book-writing.
How do you comment the so-called criminal information of the civil initiative?
Dr Janez Drnovšek: Actually, I have no comment. (noise of a train) Well, this was a comment.
Mr. Drnovšek, how would you comment Mr. Janša’s statement that he finds your declaring Mr. Mencinger and Mr. Gaspari as being independent, despite their candidature on the list of the LDS, somewhat ridiculous?
Dr Janez Drnovšek: First of all, I do not wish to open a debate on individual disputes and respond to individual statements. In my views, particularly those presented for the journal Mladina, I called attention to certain irregularities in the country; to the fact, that there are many who do not feel good in this country any more, many people tell me not everything is all right in the media, that you are often ordered what to write, that positions in the economy are occupied rather unilaterally – and I have noticed myself that the same trend prevails in the political institutions as well, i.e. attempts to control institutions. However, I do not want to get into a conflict or fight a war with the Prime Minister or the Government. This would not make any sense, and no one would really benefit from it, but nevertheless, I find it necessary that, as President of the State, I call attention to certain phenomena since many people – and those from the media as well – tell me that nobody really dares to speak about these things openly. But I keep telling myself: and who will if not the President of the State?! Therefore, I only wish that the Prime Minister take all this as a constructive and well-intentioned attempt rather than a sort of clash - since neither can I see any motifs for such a clash as I myself do not have any political ambitions in this respect – and try put things in order. I myself know what it means to be a Prime Minister. I myself should know the best that the Prime Minister is constantly overburdened in different strategic areas, that he cannot pay attention to everything, so it often happens that people around him do things he is not aware of or would not approve of if he knew. This had happened to me quite often. Sometimes, when I had been told about certain irregularities, I kept telling myself it was not true, it could not be true, but later on I found out, nevertheless, that at least a part of those rumours were true.
It seems that the conflicts between you and the Prime Minister has escalated after the interview in “Mladina”. Have you been talking with each other since then?
Dr Janez Drnovšek: There has been no escalation of conflict. There is no conflict. This is just what I wanted to tell you.
But tensions do exist.
Dr Janez Drnovšek: No, none. There are no tensions whatsoever. Do you see any tensions, do you feel them? I don’t.
President Drnovšek, will you two ever cooperate again?
Dr Janez Drnovšek: Look, I told you my view of the situation, of the so-called conflict. I tell this is no conflict. I do not want to be in conflict. I only want to carry out my duties as the President of the State correctly. I believe that the Prime Minister wishes the same, so for himself as well as for others, and therefore it would be the best that each of us derives from this story a positive experience and tries to fix the things in the best possible way.
Do you look upon the mentioned criminal information in the context of this dispute with the Prime Minister?
Dr Janez Drnovšek: Well, the present press release shows that recently, in the last few days, the negativity against me has markedly increased, and somehow I get the feeling that this is not just a coincidence and that it actually proves the statements I made for “Mladina”.
What about the Governor of the Bank of Slovenia? Do you still insist on Mr. Rant?
Dr Janez Drnovšek: Yes, of course.
How do you comment reprimands that, being the President of the State, you should not write books as this represents a gainful activity?
Dr Janez Drnovšek: Quite a number of state presidents have been writing or are writing - and also many other politicians -, but I have never heard any objections against that. I myself had written my first book some twelve years ago, but there were no accusations of the kind at the time, so that I understand all this within the context of the present negativities directed against me simply because I spoke out openly about certain matters and told the truth, because I called the things with their right name, since I believe it is important to always tell and speak the truth.
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Office of the President of the Republic
Erjavčeva 17
SI-1000 Ljubljana
Slovenia
phone: +386 1 478 12 22
fax: +386 1 478 13 57
gp.uprs@up-rs.si
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