|
Statement by the President of the Repulic of Slovenia Dr Janez Drnovšek upon departure to the international celebrations of the end of Second World War in Moscow
Ljubljana, 05/08/2005 | press release
The Second World War shook humankind to its foundations. Tens of millions of people died, tens of millions had to leave their homes and go into exile and concentration camps. The suffering of people was unimaginable. Holocaust took place.
All this evil was sown by the Nazi-Fascist coalition, with its idea of a superior race, its aim of enslavement and extermination of other peoples. Had Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy won, the Slovenian nation would be no more. Slovenians would have been exterminated in concentration camps, displaced from their homes or Germanized and Italianized.
We, Slovenians, stood up against this and fought for our existence. In this way we joined other nations in the worldwide anti-Fascist coalition. Sixty years ago this coalition achieved a final and unconditional victory over Nazism and Fascism. The world celebrated and announced in unison: never again! Never again such destruction and suffering.
That is why we have to remember, even after sixty years have passed. So that it would not be repeated again.
After the end of the Second World War a new international order was created with the aim of preventing similar catastrophes. Into existence came the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the European Union, the trans-Atlantic partnership. Democracy and peace, mutual cooperation and respect are our guiding principles for the future.
We, Slovenians, are proud that we gave our contribution to the victory over Nazism and Fascism and that we can celebrate this together with the other nations. And that together with them we are building a peaceful future.
|
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
|