Interview with the President of the Republic for POP TV
Ljubljana, 12/30/2006 | press release, interview
The recording of the interview with the President of the Republic, dr. Janez Drnovšek, by the POP TV journalist Vladimir Vodušek, is published here-below.
Published: 30 December 2006
Vladimir Vodušek: President, the year that is coming to an end has been extraordinary agitated, including many tensions at the highest political levels. How do you evaluate these and other events in 2006?
Dr. Janez Drnovšek: Many things happened in 2006. Some very good, other less so, but we lived through this year as well and it is important that we learn from those situations in which we could have done better in 2006 in order to do so next time.
Vladimir Vodušek: The year 2006 was for you a year of significant personal metamorphosis. At least, this has been the citizens’ experience of you. It seems that you are in fact a completely new man.
Dr. Janez Drnovšek: I think that everyone changes from time to time and the important thing to know is in which direction. If it is for the better than this is a good thing and I hope that I have changed for the better. I certainly feel well.
Vladimir Vodušek: I am pleased to hear that. Your presidential mandate is coming to an end next year. You have announced that you would not be a candidate again. Have you maybe changed your mind or do you nevertheless intend to stay active in the political and public realms?
Dr. Janez Drnovšek: I have not been thinking about it, so it would have been difficult for me to change my mind. It is difficult to say today what will happen in a year’s time and whether or not I will still be active in the public realm. Many other things are also difficult to predict. I think that the year 2007 will bring a lot of interesting and trying things as well as many challenges that will all together determine our lives. I am not concerned with plans and ambitions.
Vladimir Vodušek: What are your wishes for Slovenia and its citizens for the coming year?
Dr. Janez Drnovšek: I wish to all Slovenian citizens, women and men, a peaceful and satisfactory year 2007, full of kindness, both received and given to others. We will be faced with various challenges. Life is composed of trying moments, difficulties, but if we confront them in good will and calmly, with a conviction that we will be successful and that the situation will improve, our efforts will be rewarded. This is why I wish to Slovenian women and men a lot of such good will and a positive approach to life and its difficulties and problems. Life will be more beautiful if we do so. And above all, I wish us to try to help those whose situation is worse that ours. If we help those in difficulties, in distress, those who are sick and in need of our assistance, it will give us a good feeling and it will embellish and enrich our lives. I wish you all a happy New Year 2007.
Vladimir Vodušek: Thank you, President.
Dr. Janez Drnovšek: Thank you too.