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Written message by the President of the Republic of Slovenia Dr Janez Drnovšek to the participants of the World Peace Summit in Brno, Czech Republic
Ljubljana, 10/31/2004 | press release
Ladies and Gentlemen, Participants of the World Peace Summit,
Allow me, please, to address you with words of hope for peace and prosperity in the world, and also to express my support for realising the idea of peace through personal commitment and through setting an example for others. I believe that meetings such as this are an important contribution to the awareness of the unity of mankind, the indivisibility of its fate and its inherent interrelatedness.
At this time, when modern communication tools make contacts between cultures and civilisations ever more direct, we are encountering new opportunities for the development of humaneness. Yet, at the same time, we are facing new challenges that we can overcome only through joint efforts. Unimagined technological progress ensures that one part of mankind enjoys a level of comfort beyond all comparison, while an unacceptably large number of people are still living in poverty and suffer from hunger. Every day 24.000 people die from famine-related causes. Such dimensions of human suffering should surely impel us to bring about the changes that are within our reach, and, in solidarity, put into practice our humanitarian intents.
Through the millennium goals established by the United Nations Organisation, member countries have undertaken a commitment to lessen the evil taking the form of famine, to struggle jointly for a more balanced and righteous world. Much has already been done, but there still remains the challenge of much more to be done. New approaches and a new level of commitment on the part of countries, non-governmental organisations and individuals are required to ensure a decent life for many millions of underprivileged people. One way to initiate the necessary changes is through new ways of mobilizing the resources at the international or global level, which, if given sufficient support, will allow us to tackle the common, global problems of the human race through joint global action. However, inertia – which revives, and quite often even deepens, the divide between people – can only be overcome through political will and courage. Yet, this will and courage to carry out the necessary changes can be – and ought to be – found first of all, and above all, in ourselves. Allow me therefore to close with a thought of Mahatma Gandhi: be the change you want to see.
Finally, I would like to express my most sincere support for your endeavours to spread the idea of peace, and I wish you much success in your work.
Dr Janez Drnovšek
President of the Republic of Slovenia
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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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